QTL identification of yield-related traits and their association with flowering and maturity in soybean

Abstract

Two soybean recombinant inbred line populations, Jinpumkong 2 x SS2-2 (J x S) and Iksannamulkong x SS2-2 (I x S) showed population-specific quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for days to flowering (DF) and days to maturity (DM) and these were closely correlated within population. In the present study, we identified QTLs for six yield-related traits with simple sequence repeat markers, and biological correlations between flowering traits and yield-related traits. The yield-related traits included plant height (PH), node numbers of main stem (NNMS), pod numbers per plant (PNPP), seed numbers per pod (SNPP), 100-seed weight (SW), and seed yield per plant (SYPP). Eighteen QTLs for six yield-related traits were detected on nine chromosomes (Chrs), containing four QTLs for PH, two for NNMS, two for PNPP, three for SNPP, five for SW, and two for SYPP. Two highly significant QTLs for PH and NNMS were identified on Chr 6 (LG C2) in both populations where the major flowering gene, E1, and two DF and DM QTLs were located. One other PNPP QTL was also located on this region, explaining 12.9% of phenotypic variation. Other QTLs for yield-related traits showed population-specificity. Two significant SYPP QTLs potentially related with QTLs for SNPP and PNPP were found on the same loci of Chrs 8 (Satt390) and 10 (Sat_108). Also, highly significant positive phenotypic correlations (P < 0.01) were found between DF with PH, NNMS, PNPP, and SYPP in both populations, while flowering was negatively correlated with SNPP and SW in the J x S (P < 0.05) and I x S (P < 0.01) populations. Similar results were also shown between DM and yield-related traits, except for one SW. These QTLs identified may be useful for marker-assisted selection by soybean breeders.

Cold stress tolerance of soybeans during flowering: QTL mapping and efficient selection strategies under controlled conditions

“…Other studies in biparental populations reported additional QTL related to pod number under field conditions (i.e. Hu et al, ; Liu et al, ; Shim, Kim, Ha, Lee, & Lee, 2017; Zhang et al, ), however, distributed throughout the whole genome and none of them close to the QTL identified here. A GWAS study by Fang et al () failed to detect SNP marker that were significantly associated with total pod number.…”

Identification and validation of number of pod ‐ and seed ‐ related traits QTLs in soybean

“…The number of identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for NPS-related traits continues to increase. More than 60 QTLs of NPS-related traits have been identified in soybean (Fernando et al, 2014;Guo et al, 2011;Huang, Zhao, Yu, Chen, & Gai, 2009;Josiane et al, 2016;Liu et al, 2015;Liu et al, 2011Liu et al, , 2017Niu et al, 2013;Sun et al, 2006;Wang, Zhang, Zhou, & Sha, 2007;Yang et al, 2013;Zhang et al, 2010;Zhou et al, 2005). However, only a few were repeatedly detected in different years and even fewer verified QTLs were identified in different genetic backgrounds.…”

QTL mapping for yield components and agronomic traits in a Brazilian soybean population

“…Fifteen molecular markers also presented association with more than one trait. QTL for the respective trait in the same linkage groups have been reported (Reinprecht et al 2006, Gai et al 2007, Zhang et al 2010, Liu et al 2011, Kim et al 2012. Other QTL related to these traits can also be found in the Glicyne max (http://soybase.org/) genomic database.…”

“…QTL are reported for traits related to weight and size of the seeds (Liu et al 2011, Xu et al 2011, Han et al 2012, Sun et al 2012, Hu et al 2013, Liu et al 2013, Pathan et al 2013, Yesudas et al 2013, Kato et al 2014. Moreover, at least six QTL have been reported for grain yield, specifically (Palomeque et al 2009, Sebastian et al 2010, Kim et al 2012, Fox et al 2015, besides the several QTL mapped for other grain yield components from different populations , Guzman et al 2007, Zhang et al 2010, Liu et al 2011, Liu et al 2013.…”

“…Moreover, at least six QTL have been reported for grain yield, specifically (Palomeque et al 2009, Sebastian et al 2010, Kim et al 2012, Fox et al 2015, besides the several QTL mapped for other grain yield components from different populations , Guzman et al 2007, Zhang et al 2010, Liu et al 2011, Liu et al 2013.…”