Seed Yield and Quality of Transgenic High-Oleic and Conventional Soybean as Influenced by Foliar Manganese Application.

Manganese deficiency in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] reduces seed yield and alters the oil profile. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar Mn fertilizer on seed yield, protein and oil concentration, and the oil profile of transgenic high-oleic soybean ('Plenish') and soybean with a normal oil profile (referred to here as "conventional"). Research trials were established in 2014 and 2015 at two locations in Ohio. Treatments included soybean cultivar (four to six Plenish cultivars and two conventional cultivars) and foliar Mn fertilizer application at the R3 soybean growth stage (none, Mn--SO4, and Mn--EDTA). In 2014, the Mn--SO4 application increased soybean seed yield by 140 kg ha-1 at the Wood County location where soybean plants were deficient in Mn. Although Mn-SO4 also supplies S, no S deficiencies were detected. At the other three site-years, soybean seed yield was not affected by Mn application. Manganese application did not influence the oil or protein content of the soybean seed or alter the oil profile. The high-oleic cultivars produced similar yield to the conventional cultivars at the Wood County location both years. In 2014 and 2015 at the Clark County location, the high-oleic cultivars yielded 410 and 270 kg ha-1 less than cultivars with a conventional oil profile, respectively. Plenish soybean cultivars did not need to be managed differently from the conventional soybean cultivars tested in terms of Mn foliar application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]