The polyunsaturated ?3 fatty acid (PUFA) linolenic acid (ALA) is an essential component of human diets and serves as precursors to stearidonic (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are important for immune response and overall human health, and a deficiency of these FAs has been linked to depression, cognitive disorders, and mental illness. DHA is also a major component of brain tissue. Humans and animals do not have the necessary enzymes to synthesize ALA and must obtain ALA from their diets. The overall goal of this research project is to characterize the recently developed high ALA accumulating soybean that synthesize ALA in a seed specific manner. This high ALA germplasm will facilitate developing soybeans with high levels of SDA, EPA and DHA, which are derived from ALA. High ALA/?3 soybeans added to aquaculture and other animal feed can lead to high ?3 seafood, eggs and other animal products.

The specific objectives are to assay levels of protein, oil, and levels of ALA, SDA, and EPA in the newly developed high ALA soybeans. Since ALA serves as a precursor for important defense hormones (jasmonic acid) and signaling molecules (azelaic acid) that regulate biotic and abiotic stresses, we will also assay response of high ALA soybean to heat, drought, salt and pathogen stress.

1. Characterize high ALA soybeans for their protein and oil content- 1-6 month 2. Quantify levels of ALA, SDQ, EPA, and DHA FAs in high ALA soybeans- 1-12 months 3. Quantify levels of jasmonic and azelaic acid, and assay biotic and abiotic stress responses in high ALA accumulating soybeans, 1-12 months 4. Test protein, oil and ALA content in seeds of progeny plants, 1-12 months 5. Release of high ALA soybean lines- 2-3 years

a) Improved oil content b) Enriched in beneficial fatty acids c) Improved use in aquaculture industry, other animal products such as eggs and for human health products d) Improved tolerance against stresses