Welcome to my home page.

The soybean breeding and genetics project is part of a considerable effort on soybean research at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Those of us involved in soybean education and research are part of the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology. You can familiarize yourself with activities of NCSB by visiting the link identified at this site.

 Our variety development efforts are focused largely on development of superior food-grade varieties of soybean. Soybean seed contains about 40% protein, 20% fat, 25% carbohydrate, 8% dietary fiber and 5% minerals. About 85% of soybeans are used for animal feed and oil for human consumption, less than 10% of soybeans are used for human food and 5% used as seed. Soy foods have become popular in North American markets moving from health food stores to mainstream supermarkets, marketed by large food companies. In addition to the nutritional value of soybean, it is also reported that soybean provides health protection against heart disease, cancer, menopausal symptoms and other diseases. With the increasing demand for soybean-based foods and health benefits associated with them, there is increased economic potential and need for identification and development of value-added high yielding disease resistant soybean cultivars for foods and human consumptions. Due to the above reasons, the demand for food-grade soybean is increasing both in the domestic and international markets, particularly in Asian markets. As the demand for soy foods has increased, the soy foods industries are looking for more food-grade soybean. We are developing food-grade soybean varieties and germplasm that have the necessary resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses encountered in soybean production areas.

 A significant part of our breeding and genetic efforts concentrates on the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is the most important pest of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) in the world and causes more yield losses than any other soybean disease. Use of resistant varieties is the most effective way to control SCN damage. Understanding of the genetic basis of resistance to SCN in soybean is important for development of SCN-resistant varieties and germplasm. Mapping resistance to SCN using molecular markers provides a powerful tool for characterization of the genetic basis of soybean resistance to SCN and we have done considerable research in this area. We have identified and published on the discovery of a number of important QTLs associated with resistance to SCN.

 We are also involved in the development of soybean varieties and germplasm with high protein (44% or higher on a dry matter basis) and altered fatty acid contents. Our goals are to reduce the total saturated fat (palmitic and stearic) to below 7%. We are also interested in development of food-grade soybean that has an oleic concentration above 50%. Soybean contains two types of polyunsaturated fats: linoleic and linolenic acids. We are developing varieties that have 1% or less of linolenic fatty acid. These fats are heart-healthy, but they can break down when exposed to air. So, food made with soybean oil becomes rancid quickly. High levels of linolenic acid can also produce off flavors and the process is known as flavor reversion. We currently have experimental lines that are low in saturated (palmitic and stearic fatty acids) and linolenic fatty acids. Low saturated fatty acids promote less saturated oil, and the low linolenic concentration improves the oxidative stability of the oil, enabling the production of lower trans-fatty acid vegetable oil.

 Other areas include development of soybean that will tolerate abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. We currently are involved in projects with other scientists to map QTLs associated with tolerances to these stresses.

 This brief summary provides you with a glimpse of the activities associated with my program. I am also involved with the teaching of plant breeding and place considerable emphasis on graduate education in the area of plant breeding and genetics at the University of Missouri-Columbia.