Identifying Enhanced Soybean Genotypes for the Creation of Polyols for Use in the Auto-Parts Industry.

Traditionally, the feedstock used in manufacturing polyurethane foams is from petrochemical sources.  Alternatively, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) oil can be used in place of petrochemical sources to create a renewable, environmentally friendly feedstock in producing polyols.  The objectives of this research were: 1) to evaluate and characterize agronomic and seed traits in recombinant inbred lines with altered fatty acid profiles and, 2) to characterize the different mutant alleles responsible for altered fatty acid profiles.  This information will help identify an improved genotype for enhanced polyol production that can be implemented into a commercial breeding program.  In 2008, 45 lines from two different populations segregating for stearic and linoleic acids were grown in the field using a Nearest Neighbour RCB design with 3 replications at 3 locations in Southwestern Ontario.  Data for grain yield, days to maturity, height, lodging, 100 seed weight, oil and protein content data were collected, and fatty acid profiles were determined using gas chromatography. The greatest genotype average for linoleic acid was 68.6% and unsaturated fatty acid levels as high as 92.6% were obtained.  The genotype with the highest average grain yield produced 3850 kg/ha, which is 86% of the check average. Genotype, environment and genotype x environment interaction effects for all agronomic traits and each of the five fatty acids were significant. The Ridgetown location showed significantly lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a mean of 64.3% compared to 69.3% at St. Paul’s and 68.4% at Woodstock.   Ten SSR markers reported in the literature as associated with stearic and linoleic acids were analyzed and Satt556 was significantly associated with stearic acid across all three environments.   A second year of field experiments is under way to confirm these results and further evaluate trait stability.