Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Seed Size and Weight in Soybean

Small seed size is one of the major traits of soybean cultivars for sprouts with regard to high sprout yield. This study was conducted to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed size and weight in a set of F 6 seeds of 89 lines derived from a cross between 'Pureunkong', a soybean cultivar developed for sprouts and 'Jinpumkong 2', a soybean cultivar with no beany taste in seed due to the lack of lipoxygenases. The genetic map of 25 linkage groups with a total of 98 markers including RFLP, RAPD, SSR and classical markers was constructed from this F/sbu 5/-derived population and was used for QTL analysis. 'Pureunkong' was significantly smaller (P＜0.01) than 'Jinpumkong 2' in seed size and seed weight. Genetic variation was detected and transgressive segregation was common in the population for these traits. Seven DNA markers including opT14-1600 in LG A2, opF02-400 in LG B2, Satt100, opC09-700, opG04-730 and opQll-650 in LG C2, and opY07-1100 ＆ 1000 in LG(unknown) were significantly associated and accounted for 4.7 to 10.9% and 5.1 to 10.1 % of the phenotypic variation in seed size and seed weight, respectively. 'Pureunkong' alleles increased seed size and seed weight at the all four significant marker loci on the LG C2. These marker loci in LG C2 were closely linked and were presumed to be a single QTL. Overall, at least three independent QTLs from 3 linkage groups (A2, B2, and C2) were putatively involved in the control of seed size and seed weight.