Abstract
Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a short-day, photoperiod-sensitive crop. The vegetative growth period (V), reproductive growth period (R), whole growth period (V + R) and the ratio of growth period structure (R/V) are photoperiod traits critical to adaptability and yield in soybean. To thoroughly dissect the genetic basis of these growth period traits and their correlations, a panel of 277 soybean accessions were genotyped with a single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) panel and phenotyped at three field environments over three years. A genome-wide association study found 28 SNPs on fifteen chromosomes with 33 significant marker-trait associations, eleven, eight, four and ten for V, R, V + R and R/V, respectively. Two SNPs, Map-6077 and -6502, showed pleiotropy in three and two traits, respectively. Map-6077, associated with V, R, and V + R, was a synonymous SNP of the GmMFT, a member of PEBP family that has been reported to inhibit seed germination and regulate oil content. These results provide candidate SNP markers and genes for further functional experiments to advance molecular marker-assisted breeding.
Highlights
As a typical short-day crop, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is sensitive to changes in photoperiod, which varies with latitude and planting season (Liu et al 2017)
For V, the mean value in Beijing Spring (BJSp) was 0.25- and 1.08-fold higher than Beijing Summer (BJSu) and SY, and the differences decreased for R and V + R as the fold differences were 0.19 and 0.38, 0.19 and 0.53, respectively
A different trend was observed for V, R, and V + R where they decreased from BJSp to BJSu, to SY, while increasing for R and V (R/V) (Table 1)
Summary
As a typical short-day crop, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is sensitive to changes in photoperiod, which varies with latitude and planting season (Liu et al 2017). Growth period traits are influenced by the response of the plant to the relative length of day and night This is important in the context of extending the geographical range of cultivation of the crop and to increase yield. The ratio of R and V (R/V) is used as an index of growth period structure and the relationships between two stages (Jian 1990; Wang et al 2015a) These traits are all photoperiod and important to the adaptability and yield of soybean (Garner and Allard 1927; Han et al 2006). A few genes have been found to associate with multiple agronomic traits in crops, for example, Ghd regulated heading date and yield potential in rice (Xue et al 2008)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
