Fatty acid development in a soybean mutant with high stearic acid

The fatty acid composition of developing soybean (Glycine max L.] Merrill) seeds was evaluated in the mutant line, A6, and its parent, FA8077. Seeds of both lines were harvested at 2-day intervals from 15 to 39 days after flowering (DAF) and at 4-day intervals from 39 DAF until maturity. Significant differences between the two lines were observed for stearic and oleic acid percentages at 19 DAF. The maximum difference between the lines was at 25 DAF, when A6 had 45.4% and FA8077 had 4.1% stearic acid. The increase in stearic acid percentage in A6 was accompanied by a decrease in oleic acid to 16.8% at 25 DAF, compared with 53.7% oleic acid for FA8077. The two lines did not differ in development of palmitic, linoleic and linolenic acids. The protein and oil content of mature seeds were similar for the two lines.