Factors affecting the concentration of health-beneficial compounds in soybean

大豆[Glycine max（L.）Merr.]含有高浓度的维生素E和生育酚，两者都具有公认的健康有益特性。仅大豆异黄酮在北美的市场价值就达5亿美元。该研究计划旨在了解影响大豆中维生素E和生育酚浓度的因素。利用在多种环境中进行的研究，我们将在广泛的非生物因素（即，空气和土壤温度、土壤湿度、肥力等）影响最大的大豆多酚和生育酚浓度的那些。在受控环境中，我们还将确定特定的生长阶段是否对特定的非生物因素更敏感，重点是空气温度和土壤湿度的影响，这些因素以前曾被报道会显著影响大豆中的生育酚和生育酚浓度。在后面的研究中，我们将使用HPLC研究几种胁迫处理对大豆生育酚和生育酚浓度以及基因表达的影响。我们将使用实时QRT-PCR技术来定量参与生育酚合成[苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）、查耳酮合酶（CHS）、查耳酮还原酶（PAL）、苯丙氨酸合酶（IFS）、丙二酰转移酶（MT）和葡糖基转移酶（GT）]和生育酚合成[尿黑酸植基转移酶（HPT）、7，2-甲基-6-植基-1，4-苯醌甲基转移酶（MPBQ MT）、生育酚环化酶（TC）和γ-生育酚甲基转移酶（γ-TMT）]在整个大豆发育过程中不同植物组织中的表达。为了确定胁迫如何影响大豆生育酚和生育酚浓度，我们将研究它们与基因表达的关系。最终，这项研究将有助于开发新的增值产品，并为加拿大农业生产者和相关农业产业创造经济机会。

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] contains high concentrations of isoflavone and tocopherol, which both have putative health-beneficial properties. The North American market value for soybean isoflavones alone is of 500 million $. The proposed research program aims at providing an understanding of the factors affecting the concentrations of isoflavone and tocopherol in soybean. Using studies conducted in multiple environments we will identify among a wide range of abiotic factors (i.e., air and soil temperature, soil moisture, fertility, etc...) those affecting the most soybean isoflavone and tocopherol concentrations. In controlled environments, we will also determine if particular growth stages are more responsive to specific abiotic factors, focusing on the impact of air temperature and soil moisture, which were previously reported to significantly affect isoflavone and tocopherol concentrations in soybean. In these later studies we will look at the impact of several stress treatments on soybean isoflavone and tocopherol concentrations using HPLC, as well as gene expression. We will use real-time QRT-PCR technology to quantify transcript levels of genes involved in isoflavone synthesis [phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone reductase (CHR), isoflavone synthase (IFS), malonyl transferase (MT), and glucosyl transferase (GT)] and tocopherol synthesis [homogentisate phytyltransferase (HPT), 7,2-methyl-6-phytyl-1,4-benzoquinol methyltransferase (MPBQ MT), tocopherol cyclase (TC), and gamma-tocopherol methyltransferase (gamma-TMT)] in different plant tissues throughout soybean development, following different abiotic stress treatments. In order to determine how stress affects soybean isoflavone and tocopherol concentrations, we will study their relation to genes expression. Ultimately, this research will contribute to the development of new value-added productions and create economic opportunities for Canadian agricultural producers and associated agri-industries.