Phenotypic variation for saturated fatty acid content in soybean

Abstract

Concern over high saturates in human diets has prompted the development of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] lines producing oil with reduced saturated fatty acid concentration. To better understand those factors that influence phenotypic expression for palmitic and stearic acid content in soybean, thirty soybean lines random for saturated fatty acid content were grown in eight field environments contrasting for mean temperature during seed-filling. Palmitic and stearic acid content varied significantly (P<0.01) both among genotypes and across environments, while genotype x environment interactions were reflected in changes in line variance and ranking for both traits. Therefore selection of a superior genotype for saturated fatty acid composition may not correlate well from one environment to another. In general, early-maturing lines were less sensitive than later-maturing lines in their response to changes in mean daily temperature for palmitic concentration. However, factors in addition to temperature appeared to influence genotype response for stearic acid content. It appears that genetic systems conditioning palmitic and stearic acids are independent, and that separate breeding strategies need be adopted to make simultaneous improvement for these two oil traits. In summary, development of soybean lines with low or high saturated fatty acid content may be accomplished through evaluation and selection in a few environments contrasting for temperature.