ARS | Publication request: DUPLICATE CHLOROPHYLL-DEFICIENT Y18 LOCI IN SOYBEAN

Submitted to: Genome
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 31, 2003
Publication Date: February 10, 2004
Citation: KATO, K., PALMER, R.G. DUPLICATE CHLOROPHYLL-DEFICIENT Y18 LOCI IN SOYBEAN. GENOME. 2004. v. 47. p. 190-198.

Interpretive Summary: It is important in plant breeding to know the genetic location of important traits or characteristics. In soybean, yield, seed oil percentage and composition, seed protein percentage and composition, etc. are important agronomic traits. It is also important to know the genetic location of undesirable traits or characteristics. These genetic locations could then be changed or modified by either traditional plant breeding or by molecular techniques. We have identified two chlorophyll deficient traits (genes) that must occur together to produce seedling death. The molecular locations (map) of these two traits were identified. The location of these two lethal genes will help plant breeders when producing new cultivars. The alternative form of the gene (green leaves) can be incorporated into new cultivars. The physical location also contributes to the knowledge of the evolution of the soybean plant. Plant breeders will benefit directly because the desirable genes and genetic location are known. Better soybean cultivars can be produced that will benefit the consumer.

Technical Abstract: Chlorophyll-deficient mutant locus, y18, has been genetically identified as a yellow lethal mutant in soybean. Our objectives were to determine the inheritance and to map the gene(s) responsible for the yellow lethal trait in soybean. The inheritance mode of the y18 phenotype corresponds to duplicate recessive genes, a 15:1 segregation ratio in the F2 progeny. The genes symbols are y18-a and, y18-b. Using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, y18-a was located on soybean molecular linkage group B2, between SSR markers Satt474 and Satt534, and linked to each by 4.4 cM, and 13.4 cM, respectively. y18-b was located on soybean molecular linkage group D2, between SSR markers Satt543 and Sat_001, and linked to each by 2.2 cM and 4.4 cM, respectively. No homoeologous relationship between the segments defining the duplicate y18 loci had been reported. Combined with data of previous reports, we discuss the evolutionary history of the four current genomic segments on molecular linkage groups B2, E, F, and D2.