Genome-Wide Association Study for Root System Architecture Traits in Field Soybean
Abstract
Roots are crucial for plant development, as they absorb water and nutrients from the soil and provide stability. Global warming can hinder root growth due to altered soil conditions, leading to drought-like effects and hampering plant growth. To address this challenge, Root System Architecture (RSA) traits, encompassing characteristics like total root length and number of lateral roots, need exploration. We examined seven RSA traits in 500 soybean accessions, growing seeds on germination and blue blotting papers, and assessing roots 21 days after transfer using RootNav2.0 software. Statistical analyses, including population structure, kinship, and principal component analysis, were conducted. We performed Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) using root phenotypic data and SNPs from the SoySNP50K iSelect SNP BeadChip with TASSEL 5.0 (MLM and GLM models) and FarmCPU. Both platforms identified 53 distinct SNPs, with 4 shared by GLM and MLM models, and the most on chromosome 13. For different traits, 8, 16, 5, 6, 1, 7, and 5 SNPs were found. We also developed CRISPR vectors with soybean-specific promoters for genome editing of root trait candidates, facilitating future research. These findings contribute to the discovery of key genes and QTLs for root system architecture, aiding in breeding resilient cultivars adaptable to changing climates.
Subject Area
Agriculture|Plant sciences|Soil sciences
Recommended Citation
Pallavi Rathore,
"Genome-Wide Association Study for Root System Architecture Traits in Field Soybean"
(2023).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI30693481.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI30693481