Characterization of soybean (Glycine max) genotypes for seed longevity using SSR markers

Abstract

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] genotypes exhibit varied seed longevity and in general are poor storers. Selected 20 genotypes of soybean exhibiting contrasting longevity were characterized using 46 SSR markers. Among these, good storer genotypes registered better storability (Germination > 90 %; electrical conductivity 30 µS/cm/g seed and germination on accelerated ageing up to 73%), whereas poor storer genotypes registered (Germination up to 67 %; electrical conductivity 57 µS/cm/g seed and germination on accelerated ageing up to 57%) during eight months of laboratory ambient storage (average 25±2 °C and 65±5% RH). Of the used 46 SSR markers, only 50% markers resolved polymorphism. Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) values ranged between 0.163 to 0.553 with an average of 0.379. Polymorphic markers produced 52 alleles, ranging from two to three alleles per locus, with an average of 2.26 alleles per locus. Genetic similarity coefficient data grouped soybean genotypes into four major clusters. SSR marker Satt423 having contrasting allelic combination segregated distinctively good and poor storer genotypes, making it putative candidate marker linked to seed storability and may be used for screening large number of genotypes. Good storer genotypes identified in this study may be utilized in soybean breeding programme.

Keywords

• Cluster analysis
• PIC
• Polymorphic marker
• Seed longevity
• Soybean
• SSR