Development of High #3 Soybeans

The overall goal of this research project is to increase profitability of soybean production by developing a high ?-3 soybean line for higher value applications. This will be accomplished using a new rapid precision genetic non-GMO approach to soybean improvement/breeding. The specific objectives are: 1.) Test soybean ?-3 desaturases in yeast; 2.) Combine highest activity ?-3 desaturase with a soybean oil body oleosin promoter; 3.) Insert this construct into soybeans & select highest ?-3 somatic embryos and 4.) Grow out highest ?-3 soybeans. This can now be done with a precision genetic approach much faster than traditional breeding but without any non-soybean genes and non-GMO facilitating commercialization. Our soybean somatic embryo metabolic engineering protocol is ideally suited to such improvement of soybean seed traits. There is a ready market for high ?-3 oilseeds and extracted oils for direct food uses, for poultry and fish feed, for high ?-3 eggs and for renewable chemical purposes such as lubricants including motor oil. With the possible exception of soluble fiber increased consumption of ?-3 fatty acids should improve human health more than any other increased component of our diets. Most Americans are especially deficient in ?-3 fatty acids. High ?-3 fish do not make ?-3 fatty acids but accumulate them from their diets. There is an increasing need for high ?-3 fish feed components. This work will provide new markets and improve demand for soybeans benefiting soybean producers. This approach can readily be applied to highest yielding soybean cultivars.