RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Harvesting soybean seeds based on canopy position could benefit human nutrition JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 036004 DO 10.1101/036004 A1 Steven C Huber A1 Kunzhi Li A1 Randall Nelson A1 Alexander Ulanov A1 Catherine M. DeMuro A1 Ivan Baxter YR 2016 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/01/05/036004.abstract AB Although soybean seeds appear homogeneous, their composition (protein, oil and mineral concentrations) can vary significantly with canopy position. Seeds produced at the top of the canopy have higher concentrations of protein but less oil and minerals such as Mg, Fe, and Cu compared to seeds produced at the bottom of the canopy. Altering the microenvironment within the soybean canopy affected the gradients in protein and oil without altering the distribution of Mg, Fe and Cu, suggesting different underlying mechanisms. Metabolomic analysis of developing seeds suggests that availability of free asparagine may be a positive determinant of storage protein accumulation in seeds. Our results establish a new category of seed heteromorphism and provide an unexpected approach to link agronomic practices to improve human nutrition and health by using seeds from the top and bottom halves of the canopy for different purposes, with seeds produced in the lower half reserved for production of iron-rich soy foods for human consumption.