Genetics of seed protein and oil inherited from ‘BARC-7’ soybean in two F2-derived breeding populations

Authors: RAVELOMBOLA, F. - University Of Arkansas; CHEN, P. - University Of Missouri; VUONG, T. - University Of Missouri; NGUYEN, H. - University Of Missouri; Mian, Rouf; ACUÑA, A. - University Of Arkansas; FLOREZ-PALACIOS, L. - University Of Arkansas; HARRISON, D. - University Of Arkansas; DEOLIVEIRA, M. - University Of Arkansas; WINTER, J. - University Of Arkansas; FORD, M. - University Of Arkansas; DASILVA, M.P. - University Of Arkansas; MOZZONI, L. - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Improvement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2022
Publication Date: 2/22/2022
Citation: Ravelombola, F., Chen, P., Vuong, T., Nguyen, H., Mian, R.M., Acuña, A., Florez-Palacios, L., Harrison, D., Deoliveira, M., Winter, J., Ford, M., Dasilva, M., Mozzoni, L. 2022. Genetics of seed protein and oil inherited from ‘BARC-7’ soybean in two F2-derived breeding populations. Journal of Crop Improvement. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2022.2033373.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2022.2033373

Interpretive Summary: The seed protein and particularly meal protein of soybean is highly important, because 60 - 70% of the value of soybean is derived from its meal and the meal is used for its protein. So, the genetic control of soybean has been extensively studied and a major high protein gene on chromosome 20 has been identified. However, genetics of high-protein in ‘BARC-7’ soybean are still unknown, which may have a separate high protein gene than the already known gene on chromosome 20. In this study, we used 250 F2-derived breeding lines from each of two soybean populations for QTL mapping. UA5814HP, with high protein levels tracing to BARC-7 as maternal grandfather, was a common parent. Field experiments were conducted as randomized complete block design with one replication over four environments, with seed protein and oil estimated by NIR. Genotyping was conducted using SoySNP6k, and QTL analysis was done using composite interval mapping. Major QTLs for protein and oil were identified on chromosomes 6, 13, 20. The well-known major QTL on chromosome 20 was not detected; but a new QTL further downstream in chromosome 20 was detected in one of the two populations with the high-protein alleles inherited from BARC-7. Fine mapping efforts are currently ongoing to confirm that this newly discovered QTL is indeed a separate QTL from the already confirmed major protein QTL on chromosome 20.

Technical Abstract: Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed protein inheritance has been extensively studied; however, genetics of high-protein in ‘BARC-7’ soybean are still unknown. In this study, we used 250 F2-derived breeding lines from each of two soybean populations for QTL mapping. UA5814HP, with high protein levels tracing to BARC-7 as maternal grandfather, was a common parent. Field experiments were conducted as randomized complete block design with one replication over four environments, with seed protein and oil estimated by NIR. Genotyping was conducted using SoySNP6k, and QTL analysis was done using composite interval mapping. Major QTLs for protein and oil were identified on chromosomes 6, 13, 20. The known major QTL on chromosome 20 was not detected; but a new QTL further downstream in chromosome 20 was detected in one of the two populations with the high-protein alleles inherited from BARC-7. Fine mapping efforts are currently ongoing to confirm that this newly discovered QTL is indeed a separate QTL from the already confirmed major protein QTL on chromosome 20.