Biological nitrogen fi xation (BNF) is a key process, but despite the economic and environmental importance, few studies about quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling BNF traits are available, even in the economically important crop soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. In this study, a population of 157 F 2:7 RILs derived from crossing soybean cultivars Bossier (high BNF capacity) and Embrapa 20 (medium BNF capacity) was genotyped with 105 simple sequence repeat markers (SSRs). The genetic map obtained has 1231.2 cM and covers about 50% of the genome, with an average interval of 18.1 cM. Three traits, nodule number (NN), the ratio nodule dry weight (NDW)/NN and shoot dry weight (SDW) were used to evaluate BNF performance. A composite interval mapping for multiple traits method (mCIM) analysis mapped two QTLs for SDW (LGs E and L), three for NN (LGs B1, E and I), and one for NDW/NN (LG I); all QTLs were of small effect (R 2 -values ranging from 1.7% to 10.0%) and explained 15.4%, 13.8% and 6.5% of total variation for these three traits, respectively.

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Abstract

Our approach combined whole-plastome and rDNA assembly with additional cytogenetic analysis to shed light successfully on the allotetraploid origin of S. scabra. We propose a Middle Pleistocene origin for S. scabra involving species with maternal A and paternal B genomes. Our data also suggest that variation found in rDNA units in S. scabra and its progenitors reveals differences that can be explained by homogenization, deletion and amplification processes that have occurred since its origin.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar QTL (locos de caráter quantitativo), utilizando marcadores do tipo microssatélites (SSR), relacionados à fixação biológica de nitrogênio (FBN), em uma população F 2:7 de cultivares de soja (Glycine max) com diferentes capacidades de FBN, Bossier (alta) e Embrapa 20 (média). Foram mapeados 16 marcadores, distribuídos em seis grupos de ligação, cobrindo uma região de 5% do genoma (151,6 cM). A análise de regressão identificou 12 associações significativas em quatro grupos de ligação (B1, C2, D1b e H): três para a massa da parte aérea seca, quatro para número de nódulos, duas para a massa de nódulos e três para a massa média de nódulos. Todos os QTL detectados foram de efeitos menores. Contudo, sete marcadores foram confirmados nas duas populações, indicativo de uso potencial em programas de melhoramento visando à FBN.Termos para indexação: fixação biológica do nitrogênio, marcadores moleculares, mapa genético, microssatélites, nodulação, SSR. Identification of QTL associated with the symbiosis of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, B. elkanii and soybeanAbstract -The objective of this work was to identify QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci) related to biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) using microsatellites (SSR) markers, in an F 2:7 population of soybean (Glycine max) cultivars with contrasting capacities of BNF, Bossier (high) and Embrapa 20 (medium). 16 markers located in six linkage groups have been mapped, covering about 5% of the genome (151.6 cM). The regression analysis identified 12 significant associations in four linkage groups (B1, C2, D1b and H): three for shoot dry weight, four for nodule number, four for nodule weight and three for the medium value of nodule weight. All QTL had minor effects. However, seven QTL were confirmed in both populations, indicating that they might be effective in increasing BNF in soybean breeding programs.