Genetic analysis and biochemical characterization of the high lutein trait of wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc.)

Abstract

We performed genetic analysis of lutein content using three progeny populations from crosses between soybean variety and wild soybean strains with high lutein content. A few F2 seeds derived from a soybean line, Toiku241 × a wild accession, B09092 showed almost equal lutein content to that of the wild soybean parent, B09092. The high values of the broad-sense heritability estimated in F2 seed generations and the highly positive correlation between the two generations of RILs from a soybean line, TK780 × a wild accession, B01167, indicated that lutein content is a heritable trait. There was no significant correlation between lutein content and seed weight in F3 seeds from cv. Toyomusume × a wild accession, GD50344. Flowering time was positively correlated with lutein content in the three populations. We identified xanthophylls, such as neoxanthin, violaxanthin and antheraxanthin, in addition to the major lutein in wild soybean strains. Xanthophyll content in progeny populations from interspecific crosses showed highly positive correlations with lutein content, suggesting that the high lutein trait of the wild soybean might be implicated in the biosynthesis and/or accumulation of xanthophylls during seed filling.