Chapter 8 - Untapped Soybeans: A Genetic Reservoir for its Improvement

Abstract

Soybean is an important multipurpose legume crop in the world with a diverse range of products from vegetable oil, soybean milk, tofu, poultry, and aquaculture feed. The richness in protein adds value of soybean to be grown in different regions of world. With increasing human population and demand of soybean, it is necessary to evolve new varieties of soybean with higher yields, better nutritional quality, and resistance to stresses. This necessitates the use of genetic diversity and variability existing throughout the world. Unfortunately, breeding has eroded very useful genetic variation present in soybean due to use of parents with same genetic origin. In soybean, there are many wild species possessing genes for desired traits like high yield, resistance to biotic and biotic factors. This genetic variation present in the wild germplasm needs to be exploited for developing improved soybeans. Unfortunately, wild species of soybean have not yet been so largely explored and exploited. There is need to identify the wild species and their accessions as source of genes for traits conferring better nutritional quality, resistance to various stresses. Furthermore, techniques for the conservation of these valuable wild species and germplasm need to be studied and developed for preservation and conservation purpose so that these may be provided to the breeders on request. Moreover, modern molecular techniques have better potential for achieving the desired objectives efficiently and effectively. DNA fingerprinting and marker techniques can be used for identification of useful sources, in vitro techniques of germplasm conservation is very effective in this era, and functional genomics and transformation protocols help the breeders for transferring desired genes from source to target plants. Therefore, wild species and relatives of soybeans should be thoroughly studied and effectively exploited in the improvement of soybean, with better traits and adaptability to diverse environments.