Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #382241

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: QTL mapping of seed quality traits in two recombinant inbred line soybean populations

Author
item Gillenwater, Jay
item McNeece, Brandon
item Mian, Rouf
item Taliercio, Earl

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Improvement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2021
Publication Date: 10/22/2021
Citation: Gillenwater, J., Mcneece, B.T., Mian, R.M., Taliercio, E.W. 2021. QTL mapping of seed quality traits in two recombinant inbred line soybean populations. Journal of Crop Improvement. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2021.1985028.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2021.1985028

Interpretive Summary: The USA is the second largest soybean grower and exporter in the world. Seed oil and seed protein contents are the two most important traits of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) that are negatively correlated to each other and protein is also negatively related to seed yield. It is important to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) or genes that control protein and oil independently to break the negative relation between protein and oil. The objectives of this study were to identify novel QTL and validate existing QTL associated with seed oil, seed protein, and seed weight in soybean. Two mapping populations, Pop 201 and Pop 202, consisting of 180 and 170 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), respectively, were used in this study. The phenotypic data for each population were collected from four environments. The linkage maps of Pop 201 and Pop 202 consisted of 421 and 416 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, respectively. Multiple QTL Mapping (MQM) analyses identified a total of 13 QTL for seed oil, 7 QTL for seed protein, and 6 for seed weight (SDWT). QTL for seed oil content not co-located with protein QTL were found on chromosomes 17 and 18 in multiple environments in Pops 201 and 202, respectively. These QTL can be useful in reducing the inverse correlation between seed protein and seed oil contents. Most QTL found in this study are in previously reported genomic regions, and thus provide additional evidence for the stability of those QTL across genetic and environmental backgrounds. The findings of this study add new and useful knowledge on the genes or QTL that control protein and oil contents of soybean.

Technical Abstract: Seed oil and seed protein contents are commercially important components of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) that are inversely correlated. The objectives of this study were to identify novel QTL and validate existing QTL associated with seed oil, seed protein, and seed weight in soybean. Two mapping populations, Pop 201 and Pop 202, consisting of 180 and 170 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), respectively, were used in this study. The phenotypic data for each population were collected from four environments. The linkage maps of Pop 201 and Pop 202 consisted of 421 and 416 polymorphic SNP markers, respectively. Multiple QTL Mapping (MQM) identified a total of 13 QTL for seed oil, 7 QTL for seed protein, and 6 for seed weight (SDWT). QTL for seed oil content not co-located with protein QTL were found on chromosomes 17 and 18 in multiple environments in Pops 201 and 202, respectively. These QTL can be useful in reducing the inverse correlation between seed protein and seed oil contents. Most QTL found in this study are in previously reported genomic regions, and thus provide additional evidence for the stability of those QTL across genetic and environmental backgrounds. The findings of this study provide additional insight into the genetic control of these traits and potentially enable breeders to utilize the QTL linked SNPs in marker assisted selection (MAS).