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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #344905
Title: Identification of novel genomic loci associated with soybean shoot tissue macro- and micro-nutrient concentrations

Author
item DHANAPAL, ARUN PRABHU - University Of Missouri
item Ray, Jeffery - Jeff
item Smith, James - Rusty
item PURCELL, LARRY - University Of Arkansas
item FRITSCHI, FELIX - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: The Plant Genome
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2018
Publication Date: 7/5/2018
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6472492
Citation: Dhanapal, A., Ray, J.D., Smith, J.R., Purcell, L.C., Fritschi, F.B. 2018. Identification of novel genomic loci associated with soybean shoot tissue macro- and micro-nutrient concentrations. The Plant Genome. 11:710066. https://doi.org/10.3835/plantgenome2017.07.0066.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3835/plantgenome2017.07.0066

Interpretive Summary: The mineral composition of crops is important for animal and human health. The natural diversity that exists within crop species can be utilized to investigate mechanisms that define plant nutrient composition and to identify chromosomal regions important for these processes. The objective of this study was to determine shoot nutrient concentrations in genetically diverse maturity group IV soybean lines and to identify chromosomal regions associated with concentrations of ten different nutrients in shoot tissue. The lines were grown at two locations in two years and characterized for nutrient concentrations in shoot tissues. Genetic association studies were conducted based on 31,748 molecular markers to identify markers associated with nutrient concentrations. The number of genomic regions associated with the nutrients ranged from 10 to 24. Ultimately, the associations identified in this study will need to be confirmed in future studies. However, they are expected to aid in the identification of new sources of variation for use in soybean breeding programs as well as in studies aimed at understanding the regulation of nutrient uptake and shoot tissue concentrations.

Technical Abstract: The mineral composition of crops is important for animal and human health. The natural diversity that exists within crop species can be utilized to investigate mechanisms that define plant mineral composition and to identify genomic loci important for these processes. The objective of this study was to determine shoot mineral nutrient concentrations in genetically diverse maturity group IV soybean (Glycine max) genotypes and to identify genomic regions associated with concentrations of different nutrients in shoot tissue. The genotypes were grown at two locations in two years and characterized for macronutrient (Ca, Mg, P, K and S) and micronutrient (B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) concentrations in shoot tissues. Genome-wide association studies were conducted based on 31,748 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using a unified mixed model to identify SNPs associated with macro- and micronutrient concentrations. The number of putative loci identified for the macronutrients ranged from 11 for Ca to 20 for K. For the micronutrients, the number ranged from 10 for Mn to 24 for Fe. In addition to co-located loci for multiple nutrients, 22 individual SNPs were associated with more than one nutrient such that 11 different nutrient combinations were encompassed by these SNPs. Ultimately, the putative loci identified in this study will need to be confirmed and are expected to aid in the identification of new sources of variation for use in soybean breeding programs as well as for mechanistic studies aimed at understanding the regulation of mineral nutrient uptake, translocation, and shoot tissue concentrations.