Oilseed crops soybean

Soybeans are the predominant oilseed crop in the world, providing one-half of the total oilseed production (Table 7). Cottonseed is second. Worldwide, rapeseed is in third place, but this is stiU a minor oilseed in the United States. Peanuts and sunflower are fourth and fifth, respectively. Since becoming estabhshed as a crop in the United States, soybeans have shown phenomenal growth and contribute significantly to the agricultural economy (Table 8). 

Et Et -CH2OCH3 Alachlor 15972-60-8 Maize, soybeans, sorghum, sugarcane, oilseed crops, peanuts... 

The plant of choice which can be used for PHA production will be influenced by a number of factors. Of prime importance is cost, i. e., in which crop will PHA production be cheapest. The answer to this question is likely to be different depending on the agricultural economics of each country. For example, if one considers oilseed crops, rapeseed may be the best crop for Northern European countries and Canada, sunflower for Southern European countries, and soybean for the USA. Other important factors which may influence the choice of target plant are the nature of the metabolic pathway that needs to modified for synthesis of a particular PHA, the procedure used for PHA purification, and the other uses of the crop besides PHA production. 

Less Conventional Sources of Protein. In addition (o the traditional animal sources of protein already described and the very large amounts of vegetable protein derived from the soybean, other sources of protein on a large scale for the future are under intense study. Among these are (1) oilseed crops, such as rapeseed and cottonseed (2) leaf proteins (3) algae and (4) single-cell protein. 

Finally, genes required for particular aspects of fatty acid and triacylglycerol biosynthesis can be identified in appropriate sources, cloned, and transferred to other plants. Rapeseed has proved to be particularly flexible in this respect, and its fatty acid composition has been modified in several ways, some of which have now reached or are very close to commercial application (Section 9.4). Genetic modification procedures are also applied to soybean and other oilseed crops. 

As previously mentioned, the triglycerides found in biomass are esters of the triol, glycerol, and fatty acids (Fig. 3.6). These water-insoluble, oil-soluble esters are common in many biomass species, especially the oilseed crops, but the concentrations are small compared to those of the polysaccharides and lignins. Many saturated fatty acids have been identified as constituents of the lipids. Surprisingly, almost all the fatty acids that have been found in natural lipids are straight-chain acids containing an even number of carbon atoms. Most lipids in biomass are esters of two or three fatty acids, the most common of which are lauric (Cn), myristic (Cu), palmitic (Cia), oleic (Cis), and linoleic (Cis) acids. Palmitic acid is of widest occurrence and is the major constituent (35 to 45%) of the fatty acids of palm oil. Lauric acid is the most abundant fatty acid of palm-kemel oil (52%), coconut oil (48%), and babassu nut oil (46%). The monounsaturated oleic acid and polyunsaturated linoleic acid comprise about 90% of sunflower oil fatty acids. Linoleic acid is the dominant fatty acid in com oil (55%), soybean oil (53%), and safflower oil (75%). Saturated fatty acids of 18 or more carbon atoms are widely distributed, but are usually present in biomass only in trace amounts, except in waxes. 

Eight major oilseed crops traded in international markets account for more than 95% of the world s vegetable oil. These include soybean, cottonseed, peanut, sunflower, rapeseed, flaxseed, copra and palm kernel. Soybean is unique among these oilseed crops in that it also contains about 40% dry weight protein. Because of the large amounts of both oil and protein, soybean has dominated world oilseed production. The US, Brazil and China produce most of the world s soybean crop and as a widely traded commodity it is available throughout the world as a cheap source of quality protein and oil. 

Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a native crop of China and one of the oldest oilseed crops in the world. Soybeans are an important source of dietary protein and oil for humans and animals and can aid in reducing chronic diseases. They are also used for soyfoods, and the oil has use as a renewable biofuel. Whether soybeans are crushed for soybean meal and crude oil or used directly for food, industrial chemicals, or fuel, the quality of soybeans will never be higher than that at harvest. From harvest onward, quality at best can only be maintained. In fact, major effort is made solely to slow the normal rate of deterioration so that soybeans can provide an ample year s supply with some carryover and sufficient seed for future propagation. 

New introductions, including herbicide-resistant canola, virus-resistant papaya, and other food crops, have been accepted. Soybean producing an oil containing the co-3 fatty acid stearidonate has been developed for the nutraceutical and fish farm feed market [3]. Interestingly, the earliest genetically engineered oilseed crop was... 

Soybeans are the number one oilseed crop world-wide. In 2005, a total of 210 mio metric tonnes of soybean were produced. Relatively few countries produce soybeans the USA accounts for more than 40% of the world production, with Brazil, Argentina and China together accounting for an additional 55%. In Europe, Italy, Russia and the Ukraine are the main producer countries. In the USA, Brazil and Argentina, the most widely planted soybeans are genetically modified varieties (GMO), which are tolerant against the herbicide glyphosate. 

DuPont scientists were the first to clone FAD2 and FADS genes from the soybean (2). They also provided conclusive evidence for the mechanism of polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, when antisense or cosuppression of the FAD2 gene led to lower n-6 desaturase activity, and the accumulation of oleic acid in glycerolipids. This was demonstrated not only in soybeans, but also in other oilseed crops, such as canola and sunflower (Table 1). These transgenic events... 

To date, the United States has not produced sizable quantities of rape-seed, probably because the agronomic conditions there are highly suitable for growing other oilseed crops, such as soybean, peanut, and cottonseed. Nevertheless, there are relatively large areas in the Midwestern United States and Alaska which are suitable for rapeseed production, and one may expect to find this oilseed crop to gain broader acceptance in the future. 

Rapeseed ranks fifth in world production of oilseed crops, surpassed only by soybean, sunflower seed, cottonseed, and peanut. It is a major source of dietary fat in many countries. Fifty countries are known to import rapeseed oil and 16 countries are major producers. Rapeseed oil has been used by humans for many centuries as a safe and acceptable dietary source of vegetable oil. 

The rapeseed breeding program at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, was initiated in 1953. Soybeans, sunflowers and safflowers were evaluated as potential edible oilseed crops for several years. Work on these crops was discontinued when it became evident that rapeseed was the best adapted edible oilseed for large-scale production in the Prairie Provinces. Since 1966, the plant breeder at Winnipeg has devoted most of his time to rape-seed. In 1958, a chemist joined the staff. The staff now includes one breeder, a chemist, and a pathologist. 

---