Project Number: 3611-21000-023-33
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 01, 2012
End Date: Dec 01, 2013

Objective:
Using DNA markers, determine the genetic relatedness among 35 major ancestral lines of U.S. soybean varieties and 54 exotic accessions used as parent in our breeding program. Identify the genomic differences between the gene pool of U.S. soybean varieties and the alternative gene pool that we have created from an independent set of exotic soybean lines. Determine the changes in the two gene pools that have occurred as a result of selection for yield. Identify genomes regions that are associated with changes that have increased yield and determine which regions are the same and which are different between the two gene pools.

Approach:
All annual accessions in the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection are being characterized with 50,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This will provide the most extensive genetic characterization of any germplasm collection in the world. From these data we will track genomic changes that have occurred through 80 years of soybean breeding in the U.S. For over 30 years we have been developing high yielding experimental lines derived from more than 40 soybean introductions that have not been used in commercial soybean breeding. The highest yielding experimental lines have yielded significantly more than the best public cultivars when widely tested over years. These lines and the progenitor lines tracing back to the original introductions will be characterized with the same 50,000 SNP markers. Genetic comparison will be made between the two sets of ancestral lines and genomic changes made through 30 years of selection within this alternative gene pool will be compared with the changes made in the commercially used gene pool.