Effects of high oleic acid soybean on seed yield, protein and oil contents, and seed germination revealed by near‐isogeneic lines

Typical soybean oil is composed of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. High oleic acid content in soybean seed is a key compositional trait that improves oxidative stability and increases oil functionality and shelf life. Using a marker‐assisted selection method, near‐isogenic lines ( NIL s) of G00‐3213 for the high oleic trait were developed and yield tested. These NIL s have various combinations of FAD 2‐1A and FAD 2‐1B alleles that were derived from the same backcrossing populations. The results indicated that G00‐3213 NIL s with both homozygous mutant FAD 2‐1A and FAD 2‐1B alleles produced an average of 788 g/kg oleic acid content. The results also demonstrated that possessing these mutant alleles did not cause a yield reduction. Furthermore, seed germination tests across 12 temperatures (12.8–32.0°C) showed that modified seed composition for oleic acid in general did not have a major impact on seed germination. However, there was a possible reduction in seed germination vigour when high oleic seeds are planted in cold soil. The mutant FAD 2‐1A and FAD 2‐1B alleles did not hinder either seed or plant development.