Development of a high-density linkage map and chromosome segment substitution lines for Japanese soybean cultivar Enrei

The genomic landscape of gene-level structural variations in Japanese and global soybean Glycine max cultivars

Japanese soybeans are traditionally bred to produce soy foods such as tofu, miso and boiled soybeans. Here, to investigate their distinctive genomic features, including genomic structural variations (SVs), we constructed 11 nanopore-based genome references for Japanese and other soybean lines. Our assembly-based comparative method, designated 'Asm2sv', identified gene-level SVs comprehensively, enabling pangenome analysis of 462 worldwide cultivars and varieties. Based on these, we identified selective sweeps between Japanese and US soybeans, one of which was the pod-shattering resistance gene PDH1. Genome-wide association studies further identified several quantitative trait loci that accounted for large-seed phenotypes of Japanese soybean lines, some of which were also close to regions of the selective sweeps, including PDH1. Notably, specific combinations of alleles, including SVs, were found to increase the seed size of some Japanese landraces. In addition to the differences in cultivation environments, distinct food processing usages might result in changes in Japanese soybean genomes.

Mapping QTLs Controlling Soybean Rust Disease Resistance in Chiang Mai 5, an Induced Mutant Cultivar

Soybean rust (SBR) caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi is an important folia disease of soybean (Glycine max). In this study, we identified QTLs controlling SBR in Chiang Mai 5 (CM5), an SBR-resistant cultivar developed by induced mutation breeding. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of 108 lines developed from a cross between Sukhothai 2 (SKT2, a susceptible cultivar) and CM5 was evaluated for SBR resistance under field conditions in Thailand. QTL analysis for the resistance in the RIL population identified a single QTL, qSBR18.1, for resistance. qSBR18.1 was mapped to a 212-kb region on chromosome 18 between simple sequence repeat markers Satt288 and sc21_3420 and accounted for 21.31-35.09% depending on the traits evaluated for resistance. The qSBR18.1 interval overlapped with genomic regions containing resistance to P. pachyrhizi 4 (Rpp4), a locus for SBR resistance. Three tightly linked genes, Glyma.18G226250, Glyma.18G226300, and Glyma.18G226500, each encoding leucine-rich repeat-containing protein, were identified as candidate genes for SBR resistance at the qSRB18.1. The qSBR18.1 would be useful for breeding of SBR resistance.

QTL Mapping of Palmitic Acid Content Using Specific-Locus Amplified Fragment Sequencing (SLAF-Seq) Genotyping in Soybeans (Glycine max L.)

Soybeans are essential crops that supply protein and oil. The composition and contents of soybean fatty acids are relevant to human health and have a significant relationship with soybean oil processing and applications. Identifying quantitative trait locus (QTL) genes related to palmitic acid could facilitate the development of a range of nutritive soybean cultivars using molecular marker-assisted selection. In this study, we used a cultivar with higher palmitic acid content, ‘Dongnong42’, and a lower palmitic acid content cultivar, ‘Hobbit’, to establish F2:6 recombinant inbred lines. A high-density genetic map containing 9980 SLAF markers was constructed and distributed across 20 soybean chromosomes. The genetic map contained a total genetic distance of 2602.58 cM and an average genetic distance of 0.39 cM between adjacent markers. Two QTLs related to palmitic acid content were mapped using inclusive composite interval mapping, explaining 4.2–10.1% of the phenotypic variance in three different years and environments, including the QTL included in seed palmitic 7-3, which was validated by developing SSR markers. Based on the SNP/Indel and significant differential expression analyses of Dongnong42 and Hobbit, two genes, Glyma.15g119700 and Glyma.15g119800, were selected as candidate genes. The high-density genetic map, QTLs, and molecular markers will be helpful for the map-based cloning of palmitic acid content genes. These could be used to accelerate breeding for high nutritive value cultivars via molecular marker-assisted breeding.

Transgressive resistance to Heterodera glycines in chromosome segment substitution lines derived from susceptible soybean parents

Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are valuable genetic resources for quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of complex agronomic traits especially suitable for minor effect QTL. Here, 162 BC3 F7 -BC7 F3 CSSLs derived from crossing two susceptible parent lines, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] 'Suinong14' (recurrent parent) × wild soybean (G. soja Siebold & Zucc.) ZYD00006, were used for QTL mapping of soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycine Ichinohe) resistance based on female index (FI) and cysts per gram root (CGR) through phenotypic screening and whole-genome resequencing of CSSLs. Phenotypic results displayed a wide range of distribution and transgressive lines in both HG Type 2.5.7 FI and CGR and demonstrated a higher correlation between CGR and root weight (R2 = .5424) compared with than between FI and CGR (R2 = .0018). Using the single-marker analysis nonparametric mapping test, 33 significant QTL were detected on 18 chromosomes contributing resistance to FI and CGR. Fourteen QTL contributing 5.6-15.5% phenotypic variance (PVE) to FI were revealed on 11 chromosomes, and 16 QTL accounting for 6.1-36.2% PVE in CGR were detected on 14 chromosomes with strong additive effect by multiple-QTL model (MQM) mapping. Twenty-five and 13 out of all 38 QTL identified for FI and CGR on 20 chromosomes were from ZYD00006 and Suinong14, respectively. The CSSLs with the combination of positive alleles for FI, CGR, and root weight exhibited low nematode reproduction. For the first time, QTL associated with CGR have been detected, and both FI and CGR should be considered for breeding purposes in the absence of strong resistance genes such as rhg1 and Rhg4.

Molecular Basis Underlying Common Cutworm Resistance of the Primitive Soybean Landrace Peking

The common cutworm (CCW; Spodoptera litura) is one of the major insect pests of soybean in Asia and Oceania. Although quantitative trail loci related to CCW resistance have been introduced into leading soybean cultivars, these do not exhibit sufficient resistance against CCW. Thus, understanding the genetic and metabolic resistance mechanisms of CCW as well as integrating other new resistance genes are required. In this study, we focused on a primitive soybean landrace, Peking, which has retained resistances to various pests. We found a resistance to CCW in Peking by the detached-leaf feeding assay, and subsequently determined the genetic and metabolic basis of the resistance mechanism using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) of Peking. Several characteristic metabolites for Peking were identified by the metabolomic approach using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry combined with a principle component analysis. The structure of seven metabolites were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The genomic segments of Peking on chromosome 06 (Chr06) and Chr20 had a clear association with these metabolites. Moreover, a line possessing a Peking genomic segment on Chr20 inhibited growth of the CCW. The genetic factors and the metabolites on Chr20 in Peking will be useful for understanding mechanisms underlying CCW resistance and breeding resistant soybean cultivars.

Mapping soybean rhg2 locus, which confers resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 1 in combination with rhg1 and Rhg4 derived from PI 84751

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is a devastating pest of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in the world. Three soybean QTLs for resistance to SCN race 1 were detected through QTL analyses using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between 'Tokei 758' (susceptible) and 'To-8E' (resistant to races 1 and 3, derived from 'PI 84751' and 'Gedenshirazu'). Two of the three QTLs appear to be rhg1 and Rhg4 from their locations on the linkage map. The third QTL, detected around Satt359 on chromosome 11, was tentatively identified as rhg2. All RILs resistant to race 1 had all three QTLs. We developed lines carrying the three loci in various combinations, including all and none, from descendants of a cross between 'NIL-SCN' (with resistance derived from 'PI 84751' in the 'Natto-shoryu' background) and 'Natto-shoryu'. Evaluating these lines in a race 1-infected field in Mito, Ibaraki, showed that resistance to race 1 required all three loci. Through field evaluation of 10 recombinant fixed pairs that we developed, we located the rhg2 locus to an 821 kb-region between SSR markers Sat_123 (=WGSP11_0140) and BARCSOYSSR11_1420 on chromosome 11.

Genetic dissection of an allotetraploid interspecific CSSLs guides interspecific genetics and breeding in cotton

Background

The low genetic diversity of Upland cotton limits the potential for genetic improvement. Making full use of the genetic resources of Sea-island cotton will facilitate genetic improvement of widely cultivated Upland cotton varieties. The chromosome segments substitution lines (CSSLs) provide an ideal strategy for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) in interspecific hybridization.

Results

In this study, a CSSL population was developed by PCR-based markers assisted selection (MAS), derived from the crossing and backcrossing of Gossypium hirsutum (Gh) and G. barbadense (Gb), firstly. Then, by whole genome re-sequencing, 11,653,661 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified which ultimately constructed 1211 recombination chromosome introgression segments from Gb. The sequencing-based physical map provided more accurate introgressions than the PCR-based markers. By exploiting CSSLs with mutant morphological traits, the genes responding for leaf shape and fuzz-less mutation in the Gb were identified. Based on a high-resolution recombination bin map to uncover genetic loci determining the phenotypic variance between Gh and Gb, 64 QTLs were identified for 14 agronomic traits with an interval length of 158 kb to 27 Mb. Surprisingly, multiple alleles of Gb showed extremely high value in enhancing cottonseed oil content (SOC).

Conclusions

This study provides guidance for studying interspecific inheritance, especially breeding researchers, for future studies using the traditional PCR-based molecular markers and high-throughput re-sequencing technology in the study of CSSLs. Available resources include candidate position for controlling cotton quality and quantitative traits, and excellent breeding materials. Collectively, our results provide insights into the genetic effects of Gb alleles on the Gh, and provide guidance for the utilization of Gb alleles in interspecific breeding.

Impacts of genomic research on soybean improvement in East Asia

It has been commonly accepted that soybean domestication originated in East Asia. Although East Asia has the historical merit in soybean production, the USA has become the top soybean producer in the world since 1950s. Following that, Brazil and Argentina have been the major soybean producers since 1970s and 1990s, respectively. China has once been the exporter of soybean to Japan before 1990s, yet she became a net soybean importer as Japan and the Republic of Korea do. Furthermore, the soybean yield per unit area in East Asia has stagnated during the past decade. To improve soybean production and enhance food security in these East Asian countries, much investment has been made, especially in the breeding of better performing soybean germplasms. As a result, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea have become three important centers for soybean genomic research. With new technologies, the rate and precision of the identification of important genomic loci associated with desired traits from germplasm collections or mutants have increased significantly. Genome editing on soybean is also becoming more established. The year 2019 marked a new era for crop genome editing in the commercialization of the first genome-edited plant product, which is a high-oleic-acid soybean oil. In this review, we have summarized the latest developments in soybean breeding technologies and the remarkable progress in soybean breeding-related research in China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

Two novel quantitative trait loci affecting the variation in leaf photosynthetic capacity among soybeans

There is a large variation in CO2 assimilation rate per unit of leaf area (A) within or among crop species, which can be exploited to improve A by elucidating the mechanisms underlying such variation. The objective of the present study is to elucidate the genetic factors affecting the variation in leaf photosynthetic capacity among soybeans. Here, we conducted field experiments over three years, using Enrei, a leading variety in Japan, Peking, a landrace from China and the chromosome segment substitution lines derived from their progenies. The gas exchange measurements were conducted to evaluate A among soybean. Peking showed higher A than Enrei after the flowering in all the years. The genetic analysis identified two novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to variation in A, which were located on chromosome 13 (qLPC13) and 20 (qLPC20). The Peking allele at qLPC13 increased A by 8.3 % in the Enrei genetic background, while the Peking allele at qLPC20 decreased A by 15.3 %. The present study is the first report on QTLs affecting a genotypic variation in leaf photosynthetic capacity among field-grown soybeans. The identification of the causal genes in these QTLs can provide a novel strategy to enhance leaf photosynthetic capacity with soybean breeding.

Highly multiplexed AmpliSeq technology identifies novel variation of flowering time-related genes in soybean (Glycine max)

Whole-genome re-sequencing is a powerful approach to detect gene variants, but it is expensive to analyse only the target genes. To circumvent this problem, we attempted to detect novel variants of flowering time-related genes and their homologues in soybean mini-core collection by target re-sequencing using AmpliSeq technology. The average depth of 382 amplicons targeting 29 genes was 1,237 with 99.85% of the sequence data mapped to the reference genome. Totally, 461 variants were detected, of which 150 sites were novel and not registered in dbSNP. Known and novel variants were detected in the classical maturity loci-E1, E2, E3, and E4. Additionally, large indel alleles, E1-nl and E3-tr, were successfully identified. Novel loss-of-function and missense variants were found in FT2a, MADS-box, WDR61, phytochromes, and two-component response regulators. The multiple regression analysis showed that four genes-E2, E3, Dt1, and two-component response regulator-can explain 51.1-52.3% of the variation in flowering time of the mini-core collection. Among them, the two-component response regulator with a premature stop codon is a novel gene that has not been reported as a soybean flowering time-related gene. These data suggest that the AmpliSeq technology is a powerful tool to identify novel alleles.

Genetic Diversity in Stomatal Density among Soybeans Elucidated Using High-throughput Technique Based on an Algorithm for Object Detection

The stomatal density (SD) can be a promising target to improve the leaf photosynthesis in soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr). In a conventional SD evaluation, the counting process of the stomata during a manual operation can be time-consuming. We aimed to develop a high-throughput technique for evaluating the SD and elucidating the variation in the SD among various soybean accessions. The central leaflet of the first trifoliolate was sampled, and microscopic images of the leaflet replica were obtained among 90 soybean accessions. The Single Shot MultiBox Detector, an algorithm for an object detection based on deep learning, was introduced to develop an automatic detector of the stomata in the image. The developed detector successfully recognized the stomata in the microscopic image with high-throughput. Using this technique, the value of R2 reached 0.90 when the manually and automatically measured SDs were compared in the 150 images. This technique discovered a variation in SD from 93 ± 3 to 166 ± 4 mm-2 among the 90 accessions. Our detector can be a powerful tool for a SD evaluation with a large-scale population in crop species, accelerating the identification of useful alleles related to the SD in future breeding programs.

Development of Three Sets of High-Throughput Genotyped Rice Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines and QTL Mapping for Eleven Traits

BACKGROUND

Detecting and mapping chromosomal regions that are related to quantitative phenotypic variation in chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) provides an effective means to characterize the genetic basis of complex agronomic trait. CSSLs are also powerful tools for studying the effects of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) pyramiding and interaction on phenotypic variation.

RESULTS

Here, we developed three sets of CSSLs consisting of 81, 55, and 61 lines, which were derived from PA64s × 9311, Nipponbare × 9311 and PA64s × Nipponbare crosses, respectively. All of the 197 CSSLs were subjected to high-throughput genotyping by whole-genome resequencing to obtain accurate physical maps for the 3 sets of CSSLs. The 3 sets of CSSLs were used to analyze variation for 11 major agronomic traits in Hangzhou and Shenzhen and led to the detection of 71 QTLs with phenotypic effect that ranged from 7.6% to 44.8%. Eight QTLs were commonly detected under two environments for the same phenotype, and there were also 8 QTL clusters that were found. Combined with GWAS on grain length and expression profiles on young panicle tissues, qGL1 detected in CSSLs was fine mapped within a 119 kb region on chromosome 1 and LOC_Os01g53140 and LOC_Os01g53250 were the two most likely candidate genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that developing CSSLs genotyped by whole-genome resequencing are powerful tools for basic genetic research and provide a platform for the rational design of rice breeding. Meanwhile, the conjoint analysis of different CSSLs, natural population and expression profiles can facilitate QTL fine mapping.

Accelerating Soybean Breeding in a CO2-Supplemented Growth Chamber

Soybean (Glycine max) is the most important dicot crop worldwide, and is increasingly used as a model legume due to the wide availability of genomic soybean resources; however, the slow generation times of soybean plants are currently a major hindrance to research. Here, we demonstrate a method for accelerating soybean breeding in compact growth chambers, which greatly shortens the generation time of the plants and accelerates breeding and research projects. Our breeding method utilizes commonly used fluorescent lamps (220 µmol m-2 s-1 at the canopy level), a 14 h light (30°C)/10 h dark (25°C) cycle and carbon dioxide (CO2) supplementation at >400 p.p.m. Using this approach, the generation time of the best-characterized elite Japanese soybean cultivar, Enrei, was shortened from 102-132 d reported in the field to just 70 d, thereby allowing up to 5 generations per year instead of the 1-2 generations currently possible in the field and/or greenhouse. The method also facilitates the highly efficient and controlled crossing of soybean plants. Our method uses CO2 supplementation to promote the growth and yield of plants, appropriate light and temperature conditions to reduce the days to flowering, and the reaping and sowing of immature seeds to shorten the reproductive period greatly. Thus, the appropriate parameters enable acceleration of soybean breeding in the compact growth chambers commonly used for laboratory research. The parameters used in our method could therefore be optimized for other species, cultivars, accessions and experimental designs to facilitate rapid breeding in a wide range of crops.