Targeted association mapping demonstrating the complex molecular genetics of fatty acid formation in soybean.
BACKGROUND
The relative abundance of five dominant fatty acids (FAs) (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids) is a major factor determining seed quality in soybean.


METHODS
To clarify the currently poorly understood genetic architecture of FAs in soybean, targeted association analysis was conducted in 421 diverse accessions phenotyped in three environments and genotyped using 1536 pre-selected SNPs.


RESULTS
The population of 421 soybean accessions displayed significant genetic variation for each FA. Analysis of the molecular data revealed three subpopulations, which reflected a trend depending on latitude of cultivation. A total of 37 significant (p < 0.01) associations with FAs were identified by association mapping analysis. These associations were represented by 33 SNPs (occurring in 32 annotated genes); another four SNPs had a significant association with two different FAs due to pleiotropic interactions. The most significant associations were cross-verified by known genes/QTL or consistency across cultivation year and subpopulations.


CONCLUSIONS
The detected marker-trait associations represent a first important step towards the implementation of molecular-marker-based selection of FA composition with the potential to substantially improve the seed quality of soybean with benefits for human health and for food processing.
The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI)/Key Lab of Germplasm Utilization (MOA), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China. liyinghui@caas.cn.
Ying-hui
YH
Li
Department of Breeding Research, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany. reif@ipk-gatersleben.de.
Jochen C
JC
Reif
The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI)/Key Lab of Germplasm Utilization (MOA), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China. mys771007@hotmail.com.|Soybean Research Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 150086, Harbin, China. mys771007@hotmail.com.
Yan-song
YS
Ma
The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI)/Key Lab of Germplasm Utilization (MOA), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China. 15011290378@163.com.
Hui-long
HL
Hong
The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI)/Key Lab of Germplasm Utilization (MOA), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China. liuzhangxiong@caas.cn.
Zhang-xiong
ZX
Liu
The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI)/Key Lab of Germplasm Utilization (MOA), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China. dadousoybean@aliyun.com.
Ru-zhen
RZ
Chang
The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI)/Key Lab of Germplasm Utilization (MOA), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China. qiulijuan@caas.cn.
Li-juan
LJ
Qiu
D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D005227:Fatty Acids