Identification and mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to Fusarium graminearum from soybean PI 567301B

Authors: ACHARYA, BHUPENDRA - The Ohio State University; LEE, SUNGWOO - The Ohio State University; Mian, Rouf; TAE-HWAN, JUN - Pusan National University; MCHALE, LEAH - The Ohio State University; MICHEL, ANDREW - The Ohio State University; DORRANCE, ANNE - The Ohio State University

Submitted to: Journal of Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2015
Publication Date: 2/28/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61542
Citation: Acharya, B., Lee, S., Mian, R.M., Tae-Hwan, J., McHale, L., Michel, A.P., Dorrance, A.E. 2015. Identification and mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to Fusarium graminearum from soybean PI 567301B. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 128:827-838.

Interpretive Summary: A residue born fungus named Fusarium graminearum is now recognized as a primary pathogen of soybean causing seed rot and seedling root rot in the United States of America. In a preliminary screen, cultivar ‘Wyandot’ and a Plant Introduction (PI) 567301B from China were identified with medium and high levels of partial resistance to F. graminearum, respectively. The objective of this study was to characterize resistance towards F. graminearum using 184 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross of ‘Wyandot’ x PI 567301B. The parents and the RILs of the mapping population were evaluated for F. graminearum resistance using the roll towel assay in an augmented randomized incomplete block design. A genetic map was constructed from 2545 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and 2 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers by composite interval mapping, and one major and one minor QTL were identified on chromosomes 8 and 6, which explained 38.5 and 8.1% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. The major QTL on chromosome 8 was mapped to a 300 kb size genomic region of the Williams 82 sequence. Annotation of this region indicates that there are 39 genes including the rhg4 locus for soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Based on previous screens, PI 567301B is susceptible to Soybean Cyst Nematode. Fine mapping of this locus will assist in cloning these candidate genes, but the DNA markers reported to closely flank the QTL can be used in marker assisted breeding to develop cultivars with high levels of resistance to F. graminearum. This research should be useful in developing soybean cultivars with resistance to F. graminearum.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium graminearum is now recognized as a primary pathogen of soybean causing seed rot and seedling root rot in North America. In a preliminary screen, ‘Wyandot’ and PI 567301B were identified with medium and high levels of partial resistance to F. graminearum, respectively. The objective of this study was to characterize resistance towards F. graminearum using 184 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross of ‘Wyandot’ x PI 567301B. The parents and the RILs of the mapping population were evaluated for F. graminearum resistance using the roll towel assay in an augmented randomized incomplete block design. A genetic map was constructed from 2545 SNP markers and 2 SSR markers by composite interval mapping, and one major and one minor QTL were identified on chromosomes 8 and 6, which explained 38.5 and 8.1% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. The major QTL on chromosome 8 was mapped to a 300 kb size genomic region of the Williams 82 sequence. Annotation of this region indicates that there are 39 genes including the rhg4 locus for soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Based on previous screens, PI 567301B is susceptible to SCN. Fine mapping of this locus will assist in cloning these candidate genes, but the DNA markers reported to closely flank the QTL can be used in marker assisted breeding to develop cultivars with high levels of resistance to F. graminearum.