Chemical and physical evaluation of soybean seeds infected with five soybean mosaic virus (SMV) isolates from Argentina

Abstract

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), causing common mosaic, is the most important soybean virus in Argentina. Recently, five isolated (Marcos Juárez, Manfredi, Venado Tuerto, Vincus Plant and Noroeste Argentino) of SMV were characterized based on their virulence. The aim of this work was to determine and compare the effect of the isolates on selected soybean seed chemical and physical parameters. SMV reduced seed weight and volume. Infection caused a significant increase In protein content but had no effect on oil content of the seeds. Changes in seeds. Changes in seed fatty acid composition were variable; the most important was the decrease of linolenic acid content of SMV infected seeds. Soluble proteins were analysed by SDS-PAGE. There were no differences in protein patterns from infected and uninfected seeds, with exception of the subfraction A3 (glycinin fraction). Examination of the relation of virus incidence to physical and chemical characteristics of seeds revealed significant positive correlations between incidence and protein content, oleic to linolenic acid ratio and refraction index of the oils. Furthermore there were negative correlations between SMV incidence and stearic and linolenic acid contents, seed weight and volume.