Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci conditioning salt tolerance in wild soybean (Glycine soja) PI 483463

Salt tolerance in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is controlled by major quantitative trait loci (QTL) or single gene(s). Among soybean germplasm, wild soybean plant introduction PI 483463 was reported to have a single dominant gene for salt tolerance. The objective of this study was to genetically map the QTL in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between PI 483463 and Hutcheson. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and universal soybean single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel (the USLP 1.0) were utilized for molecular genotyping. The RILs were phenotyped in two independent tests in a greenhouse using a 1–5 scale visual rating method. The results showed that the salt tolerant QTL in PI 483463 was mapped to chromosome 3 in a genomic region between the Satt255 and BARC-038333-10036 markers. The favorable allele inherited from PI 483463 conferred tolerance to salinity and had an additive effect on reducing leaf scorch. A subset of 66 iso-lines was developed from the F₃ families of the same cross and was used for genetic confirmation of the QTL. The integration of recombination events and the salt reaction data indicate that the QTL is located in the region of approximately a 658 kb segment between SSR03_1335 at nucleotide 40,505,992 and SSR03_1359 at nucleotide 41,164,735 on chromosome 3. This narrow region can facilitate further genomic research for salt tolerance in soybean including cloning salt tolerance genes.