Date of Award
5-1-2026
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Agricultural Sciences
First Advisor
Meksem, Khalid
Second Advisor
Gage, Karla
Third Advisor
Kaseem, Abdelmajid
Abstract
Improving the protein content and quality of soybean seeds is essential to meet growing global demand for plant-based protein sources and to reduce environmental impacts associated with animal agriculture. In this study, we used MutMap+ and TILLING-by-Sequencing (TbyS) to identify genes involved in soybean seed yield and protein content. A missense mutation in Gly4 was identified through MutMap, and additional glycinin mutants were associated with early growth rate and yield traits. We also identified high-protein soybean mutants in β-conglycinin genes (GmCG-1, and GmCG-2) and Sucrose Binding Protein (GmSBP-1). TILLING mutants in these genes and their paralogs confirmed their roles in regulating seed protein levels, amino acid composition, seed vigor, and crude protein digestibility. These findings highlight the involvement of Glycinin, β-conglycinin, and SBP genes in shaping the nutritional qualities of soybean making them a useful target for developing better, high yield, and high protein soybean varieties.
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