Abstract
BackgroundPhosphorus (P) is an essential element in maintaining high biomass and yield in crops. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] requires a large amount of P during growth and development. Improvement of P efficiency and identification of P efficiency genes are important strategies for increasing soybean yield.ResultsGenome-wide association analysis (GWAS) with NJAU 355 K SoySNP array was performed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with three shoot P efficiency-related traits of a natural population of 211 cultivated soybeans and relative values of these traits under normal P (+P) condition and P deficiency (−P) condition. A total of 155 SNPs were identified significantly associated with P efficiency-related traits. SNPs that were significantly associated with shoot dry weight formed a SNP cluster on chromosome 11, while SNPs that were significantly associated with shoot P concentration formed a SNP cluster on chromosome 10. Thirteen haplotypes were identified based on 12 SNPs, and Hap9 was considered as the optimal haplotype. Four SNPs (AX-93636685, AX-93636692, AX-93932863, and AX-93932874) located on chromosome 10 were identified to be significantly associated with shoot P concentration under +P condition in two hydroponic experiments. Among these four SNPs, two of them (AX-93636685 and AX-93932874) were also significantly associated with the relative values of shoot P concentration under two P conditions. One SNP AX-93932874 was detected within 5′-untranslated region of Glyma.10 g018800, which contained SPX and RING domains and was named as GmSPX-RING1. Furthermore, the function research of GmSPX-RING1 was carried out in soybean hairy root transformation. Compared with their respective controls, P concentration in GmSPX-RING1 overexpressing transgenic hairy roots was significantly reduced by 32.75% under +P condition; In contrast, P concentration in RNA interference of GmSPX-RING1 transgenic hairy roots was increased by 38.90 and 14.51% under +P and -P conditions, respectively.ConclusionsThis study shows that the candidate gene GmSPX-RING1 affects soybean phosphorus efficiency by negatively regulating soybean phosphorus concentration in soybean hairy roots. The SNPs and candidate genes identified should be potential for improvement of P efficiency in future soybean breeding programs.
Highlights
Phosphorus (P) is an essential element in maintaining high biomass and yield in crops
This study shows that the candidate gene GmSPX-RING1 affects soybean phosphorus efficiency by negatively regulating soybean phosphorus concentration in soybean hairy roots
The Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and candidate genes identified should be potential for improvement of P efficiency in future soybean breeding programs
Summary
Phosphorus (P) is an essential element in maintaining high biomass and yield in crops. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] requires a large amount of P during growth and development. Improvement of P efficiency and identification of P efficiency genes are important strategies for increasing soybean yield. P deficiency severely restricts crop production, especially oil crops such as soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Applying phosphate fertilizer increases crop yield, but only orthophosphate ions (H2PO4− and HPO42−) can be directly absorbed and utilized by plants [4] and 80–90% of phosphate fertilizer applied to the soil is adsorbed by microorganisms, or forms insoluble chelate with metal ions [5]. The insoluble phosphate fertilizer fixed in the soil is washed by rainwater, resulting in eutrophication of the water body. Improving crop P efficiency is one of the effective strategies to improve food production and reduce water eutrophication
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