Isolation and characterization of two chlorophyll-deficient genes in soybean

Authors: Sandhu, Devinder; ATKINSON, TAYLOR - University Of Wisconsin; NOLL, ANDREA - University Of Wisconsin; JOHNSON, CALLIE - University Of Wisconsin; ESPINOSA, KATHERINE - Iowa State University; BOELTER, JESSICA - University Of Wisconsin; ABEL, STEPHANIE - University Of Wisconsin; BARTA, TERESE - University Of Wisconsin; SINGSAAS, ERIC - University Of Wisconsin; SEPSENWOL, SOL - University Of Wisconsin; GOGGI, SUSANA - Iowa State University; PALMER, REID - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We have identified a viable-yellow and a lethal-yellow mutant in soybean. The three phenotypes green, lethal- and viable-yellow were easily distinguished based on their light reflectance indices, chlorophyll abundance and photochemical conversion efficiency. Photochemical conversion efficiency was reduced in the viable-yellow plants, whereas, lethal-yellow plants showed no ability to convert light energy. The lethal-yellow and viable-yellow plants showed significant reduction of chlorophyll A and B. In lethal-yellow plants proplastids did not differentiate into chloroplasts and few membranes were present. The reduction in thylakoid stacking was apparent in the viable-yellow plants. Genetic analysis revealed recessive epistatic interaction between the lethal- and the viable-yellow genes. The lethal-yellow gene was mapped to a 83 kb region on chromosome 3 that contained 13 predicted genes. We have identified and sequenced three potential candidate genes in this region. A single base insertion in the second exon of Glyma.03G230300 resulted in a frame shift that caused an early stop codon. Glyma.03G230300 codes for PsbP that is involved in development of Photosytem II and is critical for photosynthesis. The viable-yellow gene was mapped to a 58 kb region on chromosome 2. We located 7 predicted genes in the region. A frame shift mutation due to deletion of a base in Glyma.02g233700 resulted in an early stop codon. Glyma.02g233700 showed homology to a translocon in the inner membrane of chloroplast (Tic110) in Arabidopsis. Tic110 is known to play critical role in plastid biogenesis and the heterozygous mutants for Tic110 in Arabidopsis exhibited a pale phenotype. Characterization of lethal- and viable-yellow genes may help to better understand the biosynthetic pathways involved in the development of chloroplasts.