The Rsv3 Locus Conferring Resistance to Soybean Mosaic Virus is Associated with a Cluster of Coiled‐Coil Nucleotide‐Binding Leucine‐Rich Repeat Genes

Abstract

The Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) resistance locus, Rsv3, previously mapped between markers A519F/R and M3Satt in the soybean molecular linkage group B2 (chromosome 14), has been characterized by examination of the soybean genome sequence. The 154 kbp interval encompassing Rsv3 contains a family of closely related coiled‐coil nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat (CC‐NB‐LRR) genes. Tightly linked to this region are additional CC‐NB‐LRR genes and several leucine‐rich repeat receptor‐like kinase (LRR‐RLK) genes, thereby indicating that members of both multigene families constitute a heterogeneous cluster at the Rsv3 chromosomal region. To further confirm the sequence and genetic map concordance, we developed 16 markers from the genomic sequence including predicted CC‐NB‐LRR genes and their flanking sequences. Mapping of the resultant markers in three populations showed parallel alignment between the genetic and sequence maps in the Rsv3‐containing region. Phylogenetic analysis of five CC‐NB‐LRR genes including a pseudogene showed they were highly similar to each other and formed a subclade within a CC‐NB‐LRR gene clade with representatives from several plant families including legume species. These results demonstrate that the Rsv3 locus is associated with this cluster of CC‐NB‐LRR genes, thereby suggesting that the Rsv3 gene most likely encodes a member of this gene family. In addition, information from this study should facilitate marker‐assisted selection and pyramiding of resistance genes.