Identification of a Novel and Stable QTL for Seed Oil Content in Soybean

Abstract

Abstract Soybean oil content is one of the most valuable quantitative traits. The improvement in seed oil contents is very important for breeding application. In this study, we constructed a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) linkage genetic map by using two genetically similar parents, Heinong 84 (HN 84) and Kenfeng 17 (KF 17), and performed QTL mapping of seed oil content based on recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations from a cross between two parents. QTL analysis showed that five QTLs related to seed oil content were identified, distributing on Gm05, Gm07, Gm10, Gm15, and Gm18 chromosomes, respectively. Of which, a novel QTL for seed oil content on Gm15, named qOil_15, was notably detected, both explaining over 10.00% phenotypic variation explained (PVE) in two years. In addition, twenty candidate genes were identified in the oil-related QTL region, and the key candidate gene is identical to previously reported gene GmRNF1a, encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Two insertions in the coding regions of KF 17 resulting in protein elongation variant, which speculated GmRNF1a is a potential seed oil content related gene. These results provided an enrichment of QTLs and potential candidates for seed oil content, as well as useful new information for genetic mechanism and genetic improvement of seed oil content in soybean.