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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #251563
Title: Molecular mapping of two environmentally sensitive male-sterile mutants in soybean

Author
item FRASCH, R - University Of Wisconsin
item WEIGAND, COURTNEY - University Of Wisconsin
item PEREZ, PAOLA - Iowa State University
item Palmer, Reid
item SANDHU, DEVINDER - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: Journal of Heredity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/17/2010
Publication Date: 1/1/2011
Citation: Frasch, R.M., Weigand, C., Perez, P., Palmer, R.G., Sandhu, D. 2011. Molecular mapping of two environmentally sensitive male-sterile mutants in soybean. Journal of Heredity. 102:11-16.

Interpretive Summary: Changes in the development of the male or female organs in plants can lead to complete or partial male and/or female sterility. Some plants have environmentally-induced changes during reproductive development that result in partial or complete sterility. In soybean, two environmentally-sensitive male-sterile, female-fertile plants were identified. These mutants molecularly mapped to different locations in the genome, so they represent different genetic changes. Environmentally-sensitive mutants have been proposed to produce hybrid rice, but too much variation in the environment (e.g., temperature), therefore, 100% hybrid seed could not be produced. In a separate study, we will test our two soybean environmentally-sensitive mutants to see if environments can be identified that consistently produce all male-fertile plants or all male-sterile plants. If environmentally stable (e.g., temperature), these environmentally-sensitive plants can be used to produce hybrid soybean seed. Hybrids usually are superior to non-hybrids in agronomic performance. The increase in seed yield would benefit the buyer (farmer), seller (company), and the consumer (possibly cheaper food and better quality).

Technical Abstract: In soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], manual cross-pollination to produce large quantities of hybrid seed is difficult and time consuming. Identification of an environmentally stable male-sterility system could make hybrid seed production commercially valuable. In soybean, two environmentally sensitive male-sterile, female-fertile mutants (ms8 and msp) have been identified. Inheritance studies demonstrated that both the genes show monogenic inheritance. The objectives of this study were to: (i) confirm that msp and ms8 are independent genes; (ii) identify the soybean chromosomes that contain the msp and the ms8 genes using Bulk Segregant Analyses (BSA); and (iii) make a genetic linkage map of the regions containing these genes. Map location of Sat_389 suggested that the ms8 gene is located on chromosome Gm07; Molecular Linkage Group (MLG) M. Map location of Satt172 indicated that the msp gene is located on chromosome Gm02 (MLG Dlb). Genetic linkage maps developed using F2 populations revealed that ms8 is flanked by a telomere and Sat_389, and msp is flanked by Sat_069 and GMES4176. The region between the telomere and Sat_389 is physically 160 Kb. Soybean sequence information revealed that there are 13 genes present in that region. BLASTP analyses uncovered that homologs of three of the 13 genes are known to play a role in cell division, suggesting a putative candidate for ms8. This information will be useful to scientists to make fertile plants male-sterile. These male-sterile, fertile-plants can be used to produce hybrid seed.