@article{taliercio_gillenwater_woodruff_fallen_2024, title={<i>Glycine soja</i>, PI424025, is a valuable genetic resource to improve soybean seed-protein content and composition}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0310544}, abstractNote={Soybean seed-protein content and composition is important because it contributes over half the value of this $61 billion crop. Historic negative correlation between seed-protein content and oil have been reported. Similarly, negative correlation between seed-protein content and yield have been reported but may be at least in part mitigated by increasing the genetic diversity of the elite soybean germplasm. Improvements in amino acid composition of seed-protein would increase the value of soybean meal and protein for animal and human consumption. We have identified a genetic resource in wild soybean germplasm, PI424025B, with elevated seed-protein, elevated cysteine in the seed and increased sulfur content in the seed. We have developed a population of Recombinant Inbred Lines derived from a cross between NC-Raleigh and PI424025B. We evaluated the carbon, nitrogen and sulfur (C, N and S) content of seeds from the progeny, the parents and other high-seed protein soybean lines. N content and C/N (ratio of C to N) were well correlated with protein content measured by NIR. PI424025B had a N content comparable to high-protein soybean lines and a superior N/S. These traits were inherited by some of the progeny. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) associated with high-seed protein were identified on chr2, chr20 and chr15 and colocalizes with well characterized loci on chr 15 and chr 20 known to affect seed-protein content and quality. A potentially unique QTL was identified on Chr15. Unlike the chr20 QTL, the chr15 QTL improved S content relative to N content and was superior to other high seed-protein phenotypes tested. These data indicate that PI424025B is a valuable resource to diversify the genetics of soybean while improving soybean seed-protein content and composition.}, number={11}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Taliercio, Earl and Gillenwater, Jay and Woodruff, Lisa and Fallen, Ben}, year={2024}, month={Nov} }
 @article{gillenwater_mian_cunicelli_mcneece_taliercio_2023, title={Identification of High-Yielding Soybean Lines with Exceptional Seed Composition Qualities}, volume={3}, ISSN={["2673-7655"]}, DOI={10.3390/crops3040029}, abstractNote={In current markets, the primary uses for soybean seeds are in products derived from their oil or protein content. However, growers are compensated based on seed yield, so a more valuable crop is one that does not compromise on yield when compared with existing options, with an optimum combination of protein and oil. A negative correlation of seed protein with seed yield and oil makes the simultaneous improvement of these traits difficult but not impossible through conventional breeding. Selections of lines with exceptional yield and seed composition were made from two recombinant inbred line (RIL) soybean mapping populations to identify high protein and/or high oil lines with yields comparable to elite cultivars. The performance of these RILs was evaluated in multiple environments, and several genotypes were identified with yields comparable to those of high-yielding check cultivars with seed protein and/or oil content superior to the checks. These genotypes will provide breeders with additional sources of germplasm for continuing efforts to improve seed composition traits without compromising seed yield and provide growers with more profitable cultivars.}, number={4}, journal={CROPS}, author={Gillenwater, Jay and Mian, Rouf and Cunicelli, Mia and McNeece, Brant and Taliercio, Earl}, year={2023}, month={Dec}, pages={333–342} }
 @article{mcneece_gillenwater_li_mian_2021, title={Assessment of soybean test weight among genotypes, environments, agronomic and seed compositional traits}, ISSN={["1435-0645"]}, DOI={10.1002/agj2.20665}, abstractNote={Abstract The value of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] depends on quantity (yield) and quality, such as seed composition and test weight (TW). Test weight is a bulk density measurement for grain quality evaluation, and higher TW grains are preferred for storage, transport, and export. Thus, soybean breeding should focus on improvement of TW. The objectives of this study were to determine genotypic and environmental effects on TW of soybean and explore relationships of TW with yield, maturity, 100 seed weight (SDWT), seed quality (SQ), seed oil concentration (SOC), and seed protein concentration (SPC). Three sets of breeding populations (BPs), two mapping populations (MPs), and five different high vs. low seed protein near‐isogenic lines populations (NILPs) were used. The BPs and MPs had an average range of 3.5 kg hectoliter (hL) –1 in TW among genotypes. The average ranges of TW in the NILPs were equal for both low protein (LP) and high protein (HP) lines (2.7 kg hL –1 ). Broad‐sense heritability estimates for TW ranged from .62 to .95. The genotypic and G × E effects on TW were significant in all trials. The SDWT, SQ, SOC, and SPC had strong significant relationships with TW in multiple trials, but were inconsistent overall. Test weight of NILPs differing by presence of ‘Danbaekkong’ high protein allele on chromosome 20 had mostly significant positive and negative relationships with SPC and SOC, respectively.}, journal={AGRONOMY JOURNAL}, author={McNeece, Brant T. and Gillenwater, Jay H. and Li, Zenglu and Mian, M. A. Rouf}, year={2021}, month={May} }
 @article{gillenwater_mcneece_taliercio_mian_2021, title={QTL mapping of seed protein and oil traits in two recombinant inbred line soybean populations}, ISSN={["1542-7536"]}, DOI={10.1080/15427528.2021.1985028}, abstractNote={Seed oil and seed protein contents are commercially important components of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) that are inversely correlated. The objectives of this study were to identify novel quantitative trait loci (QTL) and validate existing QTL associated with seed oil, seed protein, and seed weight in soybean. Two mapping populations, Pop 201 and Pop 202, consisting of 180 and 170 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), respectively, were used in this study. The phenotypic data for each population were collected from four environments. The linkage maps of Pop 201 and Pop 202 consisted of 421 and 416 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, respectively. Multiple QTL Mapping (MQM) analyses identified a total of 13 QTL for seed oil, 7 QTL for seed protein, and 6 for seed weight (SDWT). QTL for seed oil content not co-located with protein QTL were found on chromosomes 17 and 18 in multiple environments in Pop 201 and Pop 202, respectively. These QTL can be useful in reducing the inverse correlation between seed protein and seed oil contents. Most QTL found in this study are in previously reported genomic regions, and thus provide additional evidence for the stability of those QTL across genetic and environmental backgrounds. The findings of this study provide additional insight into the genetic control of these traits and potentially enable breeders to utilize the QTL-linked SNPs in marker-assisted selection (MAS).}, journal={JOURNAL OF CROP IMPROVEMENT}, author={Gillenwater, Jay H. and McNeece, Brant T. and Taliercio, Earl and Mian, M. A. Rouf}, year={2021}, month={Oct} }