POWR1 is a domestication gene pleiotropically regulating seed quality and yield in soybean

Authors: Goettel, Herbert; ZHANG, HENGYOU - Danforth Plant Science Center; LI, YING - Danforth Plant Science Center; QIAO, ZHENZHEN - Danforth Plant Science Center; JIANG, HE - Danforth Plant Science Center; HOU, DIANYUN - Henan University Of Science And Technology; Song, Qijian; PANTALONE, VINCENT - University Of Tennessee; SONG, BAO-HUA - University Of North Carolina; YU, DEYUE - University Of North Carolina; An, Yong-Qiang - Charles

Submitted to: Nature Communications
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2022
Publication Date: 6/1/2022
Citation: Goettel, H.W., Zhang, H., Li, Y., Qiao, Z., Jiang, H., Hou, D., Song, Q., Pantalone, V., Song, B., Yu, D., An, Y. 2022. POWR1 is a domestication gene pleiotropically regulating seed quality and yield in soybean. Nature Communications. 13. Article 3051. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30314-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30314-7

Interpretive Summary: Soybean is one of the most important crops in US. Seed protein, oil content and yield essentially account for the economic value of soybean. Soybean seed protein content often negatively correlates with seed oil content and yield. The underlying molecular mechanisms and selection of these correlated seed traits during soybean domestication are, however, less known. Here, we demonstrate that a regulatory gene, POWR1 (protein, oil, weight regulator 1), underlies a large-effect protein/oil quantitative trait locus. We discover that a DNA insertion disrupt the function of the gene and substantially increases seed oil content, weight, and yield while decreasing protein content. POWR1 controls these traits likely through regulating seed nutrient transport and oil metabolism genes. POWR1 is also a domestication gene. We hypothesize that the mutated gene is exclusively fixed in cultivated soybean due to selection for larger seeds during domestication, which significantly contributes to shaping soybean with increased yield/seed weight/oil but reduced protein content. This study provides insights into soybean domestication and is significant in improving seed quality and yield in soybean and other crop species.

Technical Abstract: Seed protein, oil content and yield are highly correlated agronomically important traits that essentially account for the economic value of soybean. The underlying molecular mechanisms and selection of these correlated seed traits during soybean domestication are, however, less known. Here, we demonstrate that a CCT gene, POWR1, underlies a large-effect protein/oil QTL. A causative TE insertion truncates its CCT domain and substantially increases seed oil content, weight, and yield while decreasing protein content. POWR1 pleiotropically controls these traits likely through regulating seed nutrient transport and lipid metabolism genes. POWR1 is also a domestication gene. We hypothesize that the TE insertion allele is exclusively fixed in cultivated soybean due to selection for larger seeds during domestication, which significantly contributes to shaping soybean with increased yield/seed weight/oil but reduced protein content. This study provides insights into soybean domestication and is significant in improving seed quality and yield in soybean and other crop species.