Researchers discover important role played by malic enzyme in enhancing soybean oil production

In Missouri, as a potent source of protein and oil, soybeans are a vital global crop for food, animal feed, industrial applications, and biofuel production. Even minor improvements in soybean seed content can therefore have far-reaching implications for agricultural productivity and global economies.

Research led USDA and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Danforth Center uncovered an important role played by malic enzyme in enhancing soybean oil production. Their work, “Expression of malic enzyme reveals subcellular carbon partitioning for storage reserve production in soybeans,” was recently published in the journal New Phytologist.