Genetic analysis of sucrose concentration in soybean seeds using a historical soybean genomic panel

Significant QTL for sucrose concentration have been identified using a historical soybean genomic panel, which could aid in the development of food-grade soybean cultivars. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) is a crop of global importance for both human and animal consumption, which was domesticated in China more than 6000 years ago. A concern about losing genetic diversity as a result of decades of breeding has been expressed by soybean researchers. In order to develop new cultivars, it is critical for breeders to understand the genetic variability present for traits of interest in their program germplasm. Sucrose concentration is becoming an increasingly important trait for the production of soy-food products. The objective of this study was to use a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify putative QTL for sucrose concentration in soybean seed. A GWAS panel consisting of 266 historic and current soybean accessions was genotyped with 76 k genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) SNP data and phenotyped in four field locations in Ontario (Canada) from 2015 to 2017. Seven putative QTL were identified on chromosomes 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14. A key gene related to sucrose synthase (Glyma.06g182700) was found to be associated with the QTL located on chromosome 6. This information will facilitate efforts to increase the available genetic variability for sucrose concentration in soybean breeding programs and develop new and improved high-sucrose soybean cultivars suitable for the soy-food industry.