Soybean plant height QTL mapping and meta‐analysis for mining candidate genes

Plant height is closely related to seed yield of soybean. The goal of this study was to identify important loci affecting soybean plant height using meta‐analysis based on a reference physical map. Plant height related to QTLs was mapped across eight years with a RIL population by WinQTLCart v2.5. 182 QTLs related to plant height of soybean from database and our research were collected, and each QTL was projected onto the soybean physical map by software BioMercator v2.1. The confidence interval of meta‐QTL ranged from 0.09 to 5.07 Mb, and the mean phenotypic variance ranged from 4.9% to 73.0%. Furthermore, 4,259 candidate genes were located in these consensus QTLs, and 40 of them were involved in the plant growth and stem elongation and annotated as plant hormone signal transduction (pathway ID ko04075) in KEGG pathway. These results would lay a foundation for fine mapping of QTLs/genes related to plant height and marker‐assisted selection for breeding in soybean.     

Glycine max and Glycine soja are capable of cold acclimation

Soybean has been considered a cold intolerant species; based largely upon seed germination and soil emergent evaluations. This study reports a distinct acquisition of cold tolerance, in seedlings, following short acclimation periods. Diversity in cold responses was assessed in eight cultivars of Glycine max and six accessions of G. soja. All varieties of soybean significantly increased in freezing tolerance following acclimation. This study indicates soybean seedlings are indeed capable of sensing cold and acquiring cold tolerance. Germination rates after cold imbibition were negatively correlated with maturity group, but positively correlated with cold acclimation potential in G. soja. Seed fatty acid composition was varied between the species, with Glycine soja accessions containing about 2‐times more linolenic acid (18:3) than G. max. Furthermore, high levels of linoleic acid (18:2) in seeds were positively correlated with germination rates following cold imbibition in G. soja only. We suggest that domestication has not impacted the overall ability of soybean to cold acclimate at the seedling stage and that there is little variation within the domesticated species for ability to cold acclimate. Thus, this brief comparative study reduces the enthusiasm for the “wild” species as an additional source of genetic diversity for cold tolerance.     

野生大豆育成品种与其亲本间的遗传多样性比较

[目的]鉴定大豆育成品种与其亲本间的遗传多样性差异和遗传多态性信息含量,为大豆育种提供参考。[方法]采用SSR标记技术对大豆育成品种与其亲本间的遗传多样性进行分析。[结果]野生大豆亲本总等位变异数和特有等位变异数分别是栽培大豆亲本的1.31倍和3.63倍;平均多态性信息含量由大到小依次为野生大豆亲本(0.545 0)、育成大豆品种(0.478 7)、栽培大豆亲本(0.415 6)。[结论]野生大豆的遗传背景复杂,遗传多样性丰富,其外部形态和内在遗传基础都与栽培大豆有明显差异。     

大豆GmNRT1.2a和GmNRT1.2b基因的克隆及功能探究

拟南芥中硝酸盐的吸收、转运和分配是通过硝酸盐转运蛋白(nitrate transporter, NRT)实现的。尽管之前的生物信息学分析推测大豆GmNRT1.2s可能参与共生固氮过程,但尚未开展相应的功能研究。本研究通过对其表达模式分析収现,GmNRT1.2a和GmNRT1.2b分别在根和叶中高表达,且受硝酸盐诱导,在接种根瘤菌与结瘤因子(nodfactors,NFs)后表达量明显升高。功能研究结果显示,过表达GmNRT1.2a或GmNRT1.2b后大豆根瘤数目显著增加。本研究为深入探究GmNRT1.2a和GmNRT1.2b调控大豆共生固氮过程的分子机制提供了一定的数据支持。     

酸模叶蓼对大豆生长的影响及其经济阈值

酸模叶蓼是大豆田的恶性杂草,严重危害大豆生长发育及产量,为明确酸模叶蓼在大豆田中的经济危害允许水平和经济阈值,在大田条件下采用添加系列试验和拟合函数关系模型的方法,研究了酸模叶蓼与大豆的竞争关系。结果表明,在酸模叶蓼的竞争干扰下,大豆单株荚数,产量均随酸模叶蓼密度的增加而逐渐降低,而株高没有显著变化。线性函数模型y=-0.443x+39.453(R2=0.962,F=75.887,P=0.003)能较好地拟合酸模叶蓼对大豆单株荚数的影响;二次曲线函数模型y=0.702x~2-54.395x+3027.810(R~2=0.972,F=34.843,P=0.028)能较好地拟合大豆产量与酸模叶蓼密度之间的关系,对数函数y=16.131lnx-23.458(R2=0.911,F=20.532,P=0.045)能较好的拟合大豆产量损失与酸模叶蓼密度之间的关系。大豆田酸模叶蓼人工拔除的经济阈值为10.22株/m2,使用75%噻吩磺隆水分散粒剂、80%阔草清水分散粒剂、95%精异丙甲草胺乳油防除的经济阈值分别为4.75、5.03、5.25株/m~2。酸模叶蓼对大豆产量有明显影响,通过对经济阈值分析,在大豆田化学除草剂防治酸模叶蓼具有明显的经济优势。     

Agronomic traits of soybean cultivars released in different decades after grafting record‐yield cultivar as rootstock

Breeders have seldom considered the selection for root traits during the genetic improvement in soybean. It is hypothesized that grain yield would be increased by the root function improvement, especially for the current cultivars. The objective of this grafting experiment was to determine the effect of record‐yield cultivars L14 or Z35 as rootstocks on agronomic traits of cultivars released in different decades. A total of 11 cultivars, released in different decades, were used to graft onto L14 or Z35 rootstocks. The agronomic traits were measured in the pot‐culture experiments. Grafting cultivars released in different decades onto L14 or Z35 rootstocks resulted in higher yield, 100‐seed mass and apparent harvest index as compared with those of non‐grafted or self‐grafted plants. Grain yield gain of cultivars grafted onto record‐yield cultivar rootstocks was 0.40 g/plant/year from 1966 to 2006, which was larger than that of non‐grafts and self‐grafts (0.27 g/plant/year). The yield of current cultivars should increase more if their root functions were improved.     

Molecular mapping of soybean seed tocopherols in the cross ‘OAC Bayfield’ × ‘OAC Shire’

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is cultivated primarily for its protein and oil in the seed. In addition, soybean seeds contain nutraceutical compounds such as tocopherols (vitamin E), which are powerful antioxidants with health benefits. The objective of this study was to identify molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect accumulation of soybean seed tocopherols. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross ‘OAC Bayfield’ × ‘OAC Shire’ was grown in three locations over 2 years. A total of 151 SSR markers were polymorphic of which a one‐way analysis of variance identified 42 markers whereas composite interval mapping identified 26 markers linked to tocopherol QTL across 17 chromosomes. Individual QTL explained from 7% to 42% of the total phenotypic variation. Significant two‐locus epistatic interactions were identified for a total of 122 combinations in 2009 and 152 in 2010. The multiple‐locus models explained 18.4–72.2% of the total phenotypic variation. The reported QTL may be used in marker‐assisted selection (MAS) to develop high tocopherol soybean cultivars.     

Association analysis for detecting significant single nucleotide polymorphisms for phosphorus-deficiency tolerance at the seedling stage in soybean [Glycine max (L) Merr.]

Tolerance to low-phosphorus soil is a desirable trait in soybean cultivars. Previous quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies for phosphorus-deficiency tolerance were mainly derived from bi-parental segregating populations and few reports from natural population. The objective of this study was to detect QTLs that regulate phosphorus-deficiency tolerance in soybean using association mapping approach. Phosphorus-deficiency tolerance was evaluated according to five traits (plant shoot height, shoot dry weight, phosphorus concentration, phosphorus acquisition efficiency and use efficiency) comprising a conditional phenotype at the seedling stage. Association mapping of the conditional phenotype detected 19 SNPs including 13 SNPs that were significantly associated with the five traits across two years. A novel cluster of SNPs, including three SNPs that consistently showed significant effects over two years, that associated with more than one trait was detected on chromosome 3. All favorable alleles, which were determined based on the mean of conditional phenotypic values of each trait over the two years, could be pyramided into one cultivar through parental cross combination. The best three cross combinations were predicted with the aim of simultaneously improving phosphorus acquisition efficiency and use efficiency. These results will provide a thorough understanding of the genetic basis of phosphorus deficiency tolerance in soybean.     

Soil property differences among high‐ and average‐yielding soya bean areas in Arkansas,USA

Soya bean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] yields >6719 kg/ha (100 bu/ac) have only recently and infrequently been achieved. Quantifying soil property differences between high‐ and average‐yielding areas can help to further identify non‐plant‐related properties contributing to soya bean yield potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of region and soil depth on soil property differences between high‐ and average‐yielding areas. In each of the seven regions of the ‘Grow for the Green’ yield contest in Arkansas, prior to or just after harvest in 2014 and 2015, soil samples were collected from the top 20 cm of one contest high‐yield (HY ) area that was in close proximity to an average‐yield (AY ) area. Across all regions and both years, soya bean yields differed (P  <  0.05) between yield areas, averaging 4701 and 5498 kg/ha in AY and HY areas, respectively. Averaged across soil depth and years, numerous soil properties differed (P  <  0.05) between HY and AY areas within at least one of seven regions. Total soil C content was at least 20.2% greater in the HY than in the AY area in three of seven regions. Extractable soil P content was, on average, 19.4 kg/ha greater in HY than in AY areas in three of the seven regions. Results from this study have the potential to help producers better understand soil properties that contribute to or hinder achieving ultra‐high (>6719 kg/ha) soya bean yields.     

豆粕酶解发酵物对仔猪生长性能、血清指标及肠道菌群结构的影响

本试验旨在研究豆粕酶解发酵物对仔猪生长性能、血清指标及肠道菌群结构的影响。选用144头49日龄健康的"杜×长×大"三元杂交育肥仔猪,随机分为3组,每组6个重复,每个重复8头猪(公母各占1/2)。阴性对照组饲喂无抗生素添加的基础饲粮,抗生素对照组饲喂基础饲粮+60 g/t吉他霉素,试验组饲喂试验饲粮(基础饲粮中10%豆粕被豆粕酶解发酵物替代)。试验期为42 d。结果表明:1)试验组仔猪的末重、平均日增重、平均日采食量分别比阴性对照组高5.06%、10.07%、5.03%(P0.05),腹泻率比阴性对照组低39.59%(P0.05),与抗生素对照组相比各指标差异均不显著(P0.05)。2)试验组仔猪血清碱性磷酸酶和谷丙转氨酶活性、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均显著高于阴性对照组(P0.05),丙二醛(MDA)含量显著低于阴性对照组(P0.05);试验组和抗生素对照组仔猪血清指标差异不显著(P0.05)。3)试验组仔猪盲肠、大肠中乳酸杆菌数量显著高于阴性对照组和抗生素对照组(P0.05),十二指肠中总细菌数显著低于阴性对照组和抗生素对照组(P0.05)。综上,豆粕酶解发酵物能提高仔猪生长性能,增强机体抗氧化能力,利于乳酸杆菌在肠道内形成优势菌群,降低腹泻率,生长性能达到使用抗生素水平。