Long-lasting low temperature pretreatment of soybean seeds enhance plant field performance and content of free metabolites

The current study presents results from three years experimental work focused on evaluation of climate plasticity and content of free amino acids, mono- and disaccharides and fatty acids of three soybean cultivars by using an innovative approach of long-lasting low temperature pretreatment of soybean grains before sowing. The results from field performance of plants grown from pretreated and non-treated seeds were taken based on five morphological indicators. Expression and metabolomic profiles of leaves, green seeds and mature seeds of plants grown from low temperature pretreated and not-treated seeds were assessed by real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The all three years collected data from the morphological analyses, expression profiles and content of metabolites confirmed that the plants grown from low temperature pretreated seeds possess better field performance, enhance content of free amino acids, sugars and fatty acids in green and mature seeds. The obtained expression profiles of selected genes correlated with the content of amino acids and sugars. The obtained results in the present study could benefit legume crops researchers, plant breeders, farmers and processors of soybean.