Inheritance of Elevated Palmitic Acid Content in Soybean Seed Oil

Abstract

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] oil with an elevated palmitic acid content may be useful for production of some food and industrial products. Two mutant soybean lines with palmitic acid contents of > 180 g kg‐1 were developed by treatment of ‘A1937’ seeds with N‐nitroso‐N‐methylurea (NMU) and ‘Elgin’ seeds with ethyl methanesuifonate (EMS). The mutant lines, A1937NMU‐85 and EiginEMS‐421, were crossed to determine their genetic relationship for elevated paimitic acid content. The F2 and F3 generations were grown in the field and transgressive segregates with >250 g kg‐1 palmitic acid were obtained, the highest content known in soybean. The segregation ratios indicate that the two mutant lines have different alleles at two independent loci. A1937NMU‐85 was crossed to C1727, a line with the fap2 allele that controls increased palmitic acid content. The lack of transgressive segregation in the F2 generation of the cross indicate that AI937NMU‐85 and C1727 have alleles controlling high palmitic acid at the same locus or at tightly linked loci. The allele in AI937NMU‐85 was designated fap2‐b. The allele in ElginEMS‐421 was given the temporary designation of fap?(ElginEMS‐421) until its relationship to other alleles for modified palmitic acid content can be determined.