Soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds are utilized all over the world as a major source of plant-derived oils with improvements having been made in the quantity and quality of their seed oil. A research team led by Drs. Masatake Kanai and Shoji Mano at the National Institute for Basic Biology in Japan found that four Glycine max SUGAR DEPENDENT-1s (GmSDP1), which are types of lipases, are involved in the control of the quality and quantity of seed oils by degrading particular fatty acids in the process of seed development. The results produced by the team revealed the role of the mechanism of oil dynamics in seeds at the molecular level, and provides a novel strategy for generating plants with superior oil quantity and quality.

The above studies were published in Scientific Reports on June 20th, 2019.