Abstract
Key message
Here, a novel pleiotropic QTL qSS14 simultaneously regulating four seed size traits and two consistently detected QTLs qSW17 and qSLW02 were identified across multiple years.
Abstract
Seed-related traits were the key agronomic traits that have been artificially selected during the domestication of wild soybean. Identifying the genetic loci and genes that regulate seed size could clarify the genetic variations in seed-related traits and provide novel insights into high-yield soybean breeding. In this study, we used a high-density genetic map constructed by F10 RIL populations from a cross between Glycine max and Glycine soja to detect additive QTLs for seven seed-related traits over the last three years. As a result, we identified one novel pleiotropic QTL, qSS14, that simultaneously controlled four seed size traits (100-seed weight, seed length, seed width, and seed thickness) and two consistently detected QTLs, qSW17, and qSLW02, in multiple years of phenotypic data. Furthermore, we predicted two, two and three candidate genes within these three critical loci based on the parental resequencing data and gene function annotations. And the relative expression of four candidate genes GLYMA_14G155100, GLYMA_17G061000, GLYMA_02G273100, and GLYMA_02G273300 showed significant differences among parents and the extreme materials through qRT-PCR analysis. These findings could facilitate the determination of beneficial genes in wild soybean and contribute to our understanding of the soybean domestication process.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during the current study are available in the NCBI SRA database below: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, PRJNA848661.
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This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFD1200103-1) and the Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences Balance Fund Project (Y81980401).
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BQY performed the experiments and drafted the manuscript. YSD and BQY conceived and designed the experiments and methods. YMW provided the material. GXQ, YNW, LCD performed the field management. CPY, XDL, HKZ, YQL reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Yuan, B., Qi, G., Yuan, C. et al. Major genetic locus with pleiotropism determined seed-related traits in cultivated and wild soybeans. Theor Appl Genet 136, 125 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-023-04358-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-023-04358-2