Profile of mineral nutrients and proteins in soybean seeds ( Glycine max (L.) Merrill): Insights from 95 varieties cultivated in Brazil

Author(s)

Montanha, Gabriel Sgarbiero ; Perez, Lucas Coan ; Brandao, Julia Rossatto ; de Camargo, Rachel Ferraz ; Tavares, Tiago Rodrigues ; de Almeida, Eduardo ; de Carvalho, Hudson Wallace Pereira

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis; v. 134, p. 7-pg., 2024-07-25.

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) stands out as a major source of protein meal for human and animal nutrition. Nevertheless, the increase in soybean yield has been accompanied by a reduction in protein content over the last decades. In this study, we determined the profile of mineral nutrients and total protein in 95 soybean varieties broadly cultivated in Brazil, the world's largest soybean producer and exporter, to identify a possible association between seed mineral and protein content. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF) was employed to determine the concentration of macro, i.e., potassium (K), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), and micronutrients, i.e., iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu). The protein content of soybean seeds was evaluated using the Dumas method. The correlation and clustering between nutrients and proteins were determined using both univariate and multivariate non-parametric tests. Both protein and nutrient concentrations were not homogeneous across soybean seed varieties. It was also revealed that the higher the seed protein content, the higher the S, Mn, and Zn concentrations, whereas the opposite trend was observed for K and P. These results indicate an intricate association between S, Zn, Mn, and total protein content in soybean seeds. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/07721-9 - Time-resolved element mapping and characterization of storage proteins during soybean seeds development: a bottom-up strategy to increase protein content and quality
• Grantee: Gabriel Sgarbiero Montanha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 23/09543-9 - Molecular characterisation of storage proteins biosynthesis in soybean seeds: assessing the effects of mineral nutrition on protein content and quality
• Grantee: Gabriel Sgarbiero Montanha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 20/16670-9 - Spectral data modelling for tropical soil fertility analysis: association of vis-NIR and XRF techniques for the modernization of the traditional methods of analysis
• Grantee: Tiago Rodrigues Tavares
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral