Phosphatidylcholine content in soybean: Genetic variability and the effect of growing year

Abstract

Information on the genetic variability of phosphatidylcholine (PC) content in soybean (Glycine max L.) is scanty. In the present investigation, estimation of PC content in 408 soybean accessions from 15 countries revealed a range of 2.04-8.80 mg/g soy flour, thereby exhibiting about 4.3-fold genetic variation. Both high (> 8.00 mg/g soy flour) and low PC (< 4.50 mg/g soy flour) genotypes identified in 2018 were raised in 2019 to investigate the effect of growing year on PC content in soybean seeds. Effect of growing year and genotype × growing year interaction on PC content was found to be significant (p < 0.05). Results suggested that higher average minimum temperature during the seed filling stage may increase PC content. Mapping populations developed from high and low PC genotypes from diverse genetic background may be used for identifying genomic regions underlying biosynthesis of PC in soybean seeds.