Novel FAD2–1A Alleles Confer an Elevated Oleic Acid Phenotype in Soybean Seeds

To identify novel sources of genetic variation for the high oleic acid seed trait, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] lines containing a higher fraction of oleic acid were identified through a forward‐genetic screen of a chemically mutagenized population. Mutant lines contained 30 to 40% of the total fatty acids as oleic acid. Nine of the lines identified contained novel point mutations in the FAD2–1A gene, which is known to be required for the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid. Mutation‐specific markers were developed to follow the mutant alleles in segregating populations and confirmed the genetic association of the novel polymorphisms with the elevated oleic acid trait. These lines can be used in breeding approaches and in combination with other genes to generate new soybean germplasm with high levels of oleic acid for the edible oil market.