Corrigendum to: Genotypic Contrasting of Protein and Flavonoid Contributes to Differ-ential Responses of Targeted Metabolites in Soybean Seeds

The sale of genetically modified soybean seed resistant to the Roundup Ready (RR) herbicide has revolutionized the worldwide soybean market in recent years. According to data from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications-ISAAA (2009), in 2009, for the first time, more than three-quarters (77%) of the 90 million hectares of soybeans grown globally were biotech; followed by cotton, with almost half (49%) of the 33 million hectares being biotech; by maize, with over a quarter (26%) of the 158 million hectares grown globally being biotech; and finally by canola, with 21% of the 31 million hectares being biotech. These numbers indicate not only increases in hectares, but also a strong and growing adherence of farmers around the world to this technology. Considering the area planted to RR soybeans in the 2009/10 growing season throughout the world, from these 69.3 million hectares, a demand of approximately 4.2 million tons of RR soybean seeds may be estimated, which makes the international soybean seed market ever more expressive and competitive. In Brazil alone, up to November 2010, nearly 35% of the total soybean cultivars registered in the Ministry of Agriculture were RR genetically modified, this number having increased more than 443% in the last four growing seasons, a result of the increase in the number of breeding programs for obtaining RR cultivars. It is known that the physiological quality of soybean seeds is controlled in large part by the genotype or cultivar, features of the plant, and more specifically those of the pod and the seed itself, determining a differential response of each cultivar and its levels of tolerance to seed deterioration, to adverse field conditions and even to mechanized harvesting. Among seed characteristics, the seed coat is one of the principal conditioning factors for germination vigor and longevity of seeds, with its characteristics being associated with susceptibility to mechanical damage, longevity and potential for seed deterioration, which may be influenced by the lignin content and the degree of seed coat permeability. Understanding of the structure and properties of the seed coat has contributed to explaining and altering seed behavior under certain environmental conditions. In the case of soybeans, differences in the lignin content among seed coat have been observed by various authors (Tavares et al., 1987; Carbonell et al., 1992; Alvarez, 1994; Carbonell & Krzyzanowski, 1995; Panobianco, 1997; Menezes, 2008). In addition, a great deal of speculation has been generated in relation to the lignin content in the plant between RR genetically modified soybean cultivars and conventional cultivars (Coghlan, 1999; Gertz

Sixty-five soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., breeding lines containing the stink bug resistant 'IAC-100' in their pedigrees were evaluated for their resistance to stink bug, primarily southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L., feeding in replicated field trials from 2001 to 2005. Plots were sampled throughout the season for stink bug abundance, and, at harvest, seed samples were rated for stink bug-induced kernel damage. Individual seeds were categorized as having none, light, moderate, or heavy damage plus 100-seed wt and plot yields were determined. Both ground cloth and sweep net sampling procedures were used to compare stink bug densities between the soybean entries. Stink bug densities varied between years; however, in the years when populations exceeded four per row-meter or six per 25 sweeps, there were more damaged soybean seeds (>25%) in the entries with higher stink bug numbers. During the first 2 yr of evaluations, the mean stink bug-damaged soybean seeds ranged from 10.0 to 38.2%. From these differential responses, 28 entries were selected for continued study in 2003-2004. In 2003, stink bug-damaged soybean seeds were low, with damage ranging from 2.9 to 18.2%. In 2004, stink bug damage ranged from 8.8 to 53.2%. From these 28 lines, 12 entries were selected for an advanced field screening trial in 2005, including the IAC-100 and 'Hutcheson'. Damaged soybean seeds ranged from 18.5 to 54.1% among these 12 entries in 2005, under heavy stink bug pressure. From these evaluations, four breeding lines with either Hutcheson X IAC-100 or IAC-100 x 'V71-370' in their genealogy were identified as possible breeding material for future soybean stink bug resistance cultivar development.

Sixty-five soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., breeding lines containing the stink bug resistant ‘IAC-100′ in their pedigrees were evaluated for their resistance to stink bug, primarily southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L., feeding in replicated field trials from 2001 to 2005. Plots were sampled throughout the season for stink bug abundance, and, at harvest, seed samples were rated for stink bug-induced kernel damage. Individual seeds were categorized as having none, light, moderate, or heavy damage plus 100-seed wt and plot yields were determined. Both ground cloth and sweep net sampling procedures were used to compare stink bug densities between the soybean entries. Stink bug densities varied between years; however, in the years when populations exceeded four per row-meter or six per 25 sweeps, there were more damaged soybean seeds (>25%) in the entries with higher stink bug numbers. During the first 2 yr of evaluations, the mean stink bug-damaged soybean seeds ranged from 10.0 to 38.2%. From these differential responses, 28 entries were selected for continued study in 2003–2004. In 2003, stink bug-damaged soybean seeds were low, with damage ranging from 2.9 to 18.2%. In 2004, stink bug damage ranged from 8.8 to 53.2%. From these 28 lines, 12 entries were selected for an advanced field screening trial in 2005, including the IAC-100 and ‘Hutcheson’. Damaged soybean seeds ranged from 18.5 to 54.1% among these 12 entries in 2005, under heavy stink bug pressure. From these evaluations, four breeding lines with either Hutcheson × IAC-100 or IAC-100 × ‘V71-370′ in their genealogy were identified as possible breeding material for future soybean stink bug resistance cultivar development.

Seed coat color and seed weight contribute differential responses of targeted metabolites in soybean seeds

Treatment of seeds with jasmonate provides significant reduction in Meloidogyne incognita and Globodera pallida infection. The number of M. incognita inside roots of cowpea and tomato plants derived from seeds treated with jasmonate was greatly reduced; however, the major effect of jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate treatments was observed on the number of eggs produced by the nematodes wherein a significant reduction was observed in both treatments. By contrast, pre-treatment of tomato seeds with jasmonate not only reduced G. pallida infection by 63% but also affected nematode development inside the roots. These results indicate that jasmonate treatments affected nematode reproduction and/or development. We show here that germination and plant growth parameters of tomato seeds, but not of cowpea and soybean seeds, were unaffected by jasmonate treatment. The use of elicitors to prime plant immunity is a natural way of protecting plants by boosting their immunity to provide nematode resistance. Seed treatment with natural elicitors of plant immunity offers an environmentally friendly alternative for farmers and growers that can contribute to the protection of their crops from pests above and below ground.

Las semillas de soja muestran una alta sensibilidad a las condiciones climáticas y al manejo durante y después de la cosecha. En el ciclo agrícola 1997/1998 el fenómeno de "El Niño"produjo copiosas lluvias, afectando la calidad de las semillas. La finalidad de este trabajo fue estudiar el comportamiento germinativo diferencial entre semilla de soja cosechada a término y semilla sometida a deterioración a campo (por humedad) y la posible existencia de variabilidad genética, para ese parámetro, en la semilla de soja deteriorada. Se utilizaron veinte variedades pertenecientes al Grupo de Maduración III. De cada variedad se procesaron dos lotes: semilla cosechada a término, bajo condiciones agro climáticas favorables ("buena") y semilla deteriorada por condiciones agro climáticas desfavorables durante el retraso de su cosecha ("mala"). Se realizaron ensayos de germinación, Tetrazolio y conductividad eléctrica para análisis de viabilidad y de vigor y emergencia a campo. En las semillas "buenas"la germinación alcanzó los valores más altos, entre 70% y 80%. Sólo en el 55% de los lotes, el vigor varió entre 32 y 67% y la emergencia a campo entre 31% y 61%. La prueba de vigor por Tetrazolio fue la que mejor evaluó la implantación a campo. Hubo correlación significativa entre todas las pruebas. Los lotes "malos" presentaron germinación muy baja, entre 0 y 27%. No se detectó variabilidad en la respuesta germinativa de las diferentes variedades a condiciones de cosecha desfavorables.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], a major source of vegetable oil worldwide, contains unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) beneficial for human health, leading to the use of soybean oil in nutraceuticals. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of water deficit on relationships of soybean seed UFA with temperature and with solar radiation. The UFA profile was determined in harvested seeds of commercial cultivars grown in 76 environments in Argentina (29–38° S latitude). To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating a differential response of oleic (Ol), linoleic (Li), and linolenic (Ln) acids and Ol/(Li + Ln) ratio to temperature during seed fill (TmR5R7) under different conditions of field water availability. This study is also the first showing that in environments without water restrictions, Ol, Li, and Ol/(Li + Ln) ratio exhibit a quadratic response to TmR5R7. In drought environments, rising TmR5R7 and water deficit caused linear increases in Ol and [Ol/(Li + Ln)] ratio and linear decreases in Li and Ln, with both climatic factors exhibiting additive effects on UFA. Cumulative solar radiation predicted UFA in both environments but was less robust than TmR5R7 and precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration during the reproductive period (pp − PETR1R7). Our results demonstrate that water deficit (estimated as pp − PETR1R7) modulates the relationship between TmR5R7 and soybean seed UFA under rainfed conditions.

Differential responses of B vitamins in black soybean seeds

Foi conduzido um experimento com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) , envolvendo as variedades UFV-10, IAC-8 e Doko RC, submetidas ao processo de hidratação-desidratação, seguido por uma condição de estresse induzida pelo teste de envelhecimento acelerado. As sementes foram pré-condicionadas em PEG 6000, com potencial osmótico de -0,8 MPa, a uma temperatura de 20ºC, por quatro dias. Em seguida, as sementes foram novamente desidratadas, até atingir o conteúdo de umidade inicial, sendo então submetidas ao teste de envelhecimento acelerado pelos seguintes períodos: 0, 24, 48 e 72 horas. As sementes pré-condicionadas foram comparadas com duas testemunhas: sementes não-tratadas e sementes embebidas em água. Após cada período de envelhecimento, as sementes foram avaliadas pelo teste padrão de germinação, comprimento de plântula e biomassa seca das plântulas. Em casa de vegetação, determinaram-se o índice de velocidade de emergência e a emergência final em substrato de areia. O tratamento de hidratação-desidratação em solução de PEG 6000 melhorou o desempenho das sementes em termos de germinação e vigor. O aumento nos períodos de envelhecimento acelerado influenciou negativamente o desempenho das sementes, em todos os tratamentos avaliados. Contudo, o tratamento com PEG 6000 foi satisfatório em manter a qualidade das sementes. A embebição das sementes de soja em água desmineralizada prejudicou a qualidade fisiológica. As variedades de soja mostraram resposta diferenciada aos tratamentos de hidratação-desidratação e aos períodos de envelhecimento acelerado.

Introduction/Objective Soybean is a major source of various nutrients. Increasing demand for soybeans has created considerable impetus for exploring the nutritional quality of soybeans. We aimed to collect soybean varieties rich in nutrients. Materials and Methods Metabolite analysis was carried out for seed compositions, including protein, phenolics, and flavonoids, along with gene expression of protein and phenolic metabolism-related enzymes in 10 soybean accessions collected from different geographical regions. Results Total protein content ranged from 29.7% to 35.7%, depending on soybean germplasm accessions. Among them, Vang Ha Giang (VHG) exhibited relatively high protein content, while Cuc Vo Nhai (CVN) had comparatively low protein content. Further analysis of seed compounds indicated that the phenolic compounds were higher in cultivars Dau Tuong Den (DTD) and CVN, with a total phenolic content of 37.7 µg g-1 and total flavonoid of 2.1 mg g-1. These results were reinforced by analysis of gene expression levels of candidate genes β-conglycinin (7S) and glycinin (11S) involving protein storage, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 1 (GmPAL1) and chalcone synthase 8 (GmCHS8) genes related to phenolic and flavonoid synthesis, which showed similar correlation. We revealed that protein content was correlated with seed weight but not with seed color, even though significant variations were found among soybean genotypes, while flavonoid was affected by seed coat color. Furthermore, the negative correlation of protein with flavonoids demonstrated intricate relationships among seed components. Conclusion Protein and flavonoid alteration in seeds is subject to major-effect-genotypes in landrace and breeding cultivar selection, and genotype variants are relevant to geographical regions. Our study provides intricate relationships among seed nutritional components and offers insight into the alteration of soybean quality.

There has been great speculation about differential responses of transgenic and conventional cultivars of soybean lignin content in its stem, pod and seeds. Each characteristic is associated with the soaking of seeds and pods. Increase of weight of intact soybean seeds and pods at different soaking periods and their relation to the lignin contents in RR and conventional soybean plants was determined. Samples of 20 pods and 50 seeds from the conventional cultivars, Jataí, Celeste, and Conquista and their respective transgenic RR versions Silvânia, Baliza, and Valiosa were utilized. The pods were immersed into water for 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h, and the seeds were immersed into water for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h. The intact pods showed some resistance against water in the first few hours of soaking, but the seeds possess greater absorption at the onset and later stabilization. There were no differences between RR transgenic and conventional cultivars for lignin content in stem, leaf, pod, and seed coat and the IVH of intact pods was found. It was difficult to establish an association between the soaking rate and transgenic characteristic in the evaluated soybean cultivars.   Key words: Imbibition rate, lignin, water immersion.