Candidate genes identification for oil content via integration of QTL mapping and multi-omics analysis in soybean

As a core trait of soybean seed, oil content is a pivotal determinant of the crop's nutritional quality and commercial competitiveness. To dissect its underlying genetic basis, a segregating population derived from a cross between Changjiangchun 2 and Jiyu 166 was employed for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and bulked segregant analysis (BSA-seq). A total of 45 QTLs associated with oil content were identified, of which ten stable QTLs was detected across multiple environments. Furthermore, the integrative approach combining QTL mapping, BSA-seq, RNA-seq, and haplotype analysis revealed six candidate genes controlling oil content in soybean. This work not only lays a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying oil accumulation in soybean seeds but also provides insights to accelerate marker assisted selection in soybean breeding.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-026-01678-1.