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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #377542
Research Project: Exploiting Genetic Diversity through Genomics, Plant Physiology, and Plant Breeding to Increase Competitiveness of U.S. Soybeans in Global Markets

Location: Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research

Title: Mining QTL for elevated protein and other major seed composition traits from diverse soybean germplasm

Author
item ARNOLD, BROOKS - University Of Georgia
item MENKE, ETHAN - University Of Georgia
item Mian, Rouf
item Song, Qijian
item BUCKLEY, BLAIR - Louisiana State University
item LI, ZENGLU - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Molecular Breeding
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2021
Publication Date: 8/6/2021
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7477693
Citation: Arnold, B., Menke, E., Mian, R.M., Song, Q., Buckley, B., Li, Z. 2021. Mining QTL for elevated protein and other major seed composition traits from diverse soybean germplasm. Molecular Breeding. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-021-01242-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-021-01242-z

Interpretive Summary: Improvement of seed protein content of soybean without negatively affecting yield and oil content is an important goal for soybean breeders. Both seed protein and oil contents of soybean are conditioned by many genes, scientifically known as quantitative trait loci (QTL). It is very important to map such QTL with DNA markers to use marker assisted breeding for improvement of these traits. A population consisting of 132 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed between an elite breeding line, G00-3213 and a plant introduction, PI 594458A with elevated protein content. In 2016 and 2017, single row for each of RILs was grown in Watkinsville, GA, while in 2018 the population was grown at two locations with two replications per location. The seed composition of RILs was analyzed with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR). The high and normal protein bulks were formed based on 2017 data and genotyped with SoySNP50k iSelect BeadChip, and the RIL population was also genotyped using the SoySNP6k iSelect BeadChip. QTL analysis from four environments identified 19, 12, 9, 3, and 4 QTL for protein, oil, sucrose, cysteine, and methionine, respectively. The QTLs identified on chromosomes (Chrs) 5, 6, and 13 for protein and on Chr 9 for sucrose were consistent with the BSA results. QTLs for protein identified on Chrs 6, 13, and 15 were detected in multiple environments, and a QTL on Chr 10 for methionine content was detected in all but one environment. The results of this research provide additional genomic resources for genetic improvement of seed composition via marker assisted breeding.

Technical Abstract: Soybeans are the world's largest source of animal protein feed and the second largest source of vegetable oil. Improving the seed protein of soybean without negatively affecting yield and oil content is an important goal for soybean breeders. A population consisting of 132 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed between an elite breeding line, G00-3213 and a plant introduction, PI 594458A with elevated protein content. In 2016 and 2017, single row for each of RILs was grown in Watkinsville, GA, while in 2018 the population was grown at two locations with two replications per location. The seed composition of RILs was analyzed with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR). The high and normal protein bulks were formed based on 2017 data and genotyped with SoySNP50k iSelect BeadChip, and the RIL population was also genotyped using the SoySNP6k iSelect BeadChip. QTL analysis from four environments identified 19, 12, 9, 3, and 4 QTL for protein, oil, sucrose, cysteine, and methionine, respectively. The QTLs identified on chromosomes (Chrs) 5, 6, and 13 for protein and on Chr 9 for sucrose were consistent with the BSA results. QTLs for protein identified on Chrs 6, 13, and 15 were detected in multiple environments, and a QTL on Chr 10 for methionine content was detected in all but one environment. The results of this research can provide additional genomic resources for genetic improvement of seed composition and help breeders to better understand the impacts of environment on these QTLs.