MAPPING OF QTL FOR TOLERANCE TO SOIL WATERLOGGING IN SOYBEAN

¹ USDA-ARS, Soil Drainage Research, 590 Woody Hayes Dr # 234, Columbus, OH 43210 USA

² University of Arkansas

³ University of Utah

⁴ The Ohio State University

⁵ Texas A&M University

Soil waterlogging is a major environmental stress that suppresses soybean growth and productivity. We have identified a putative QTL associated with soybean tolerance to soil waterlogging. One hundred twenty-two recombinant inbred lines (RIL) of the Archer x Minsoy and 86 RIL of the Archer x Noir populations were grown in Ohio and were subjected to soil waterlogging for two weeks at the R1 stage. One single QTL, the SAT-064 from the Archer parent, was associated with 50% of the variation in plant growth under flooded conditions. The same QTL was also associated with more than 50% of the variation in seed yields under flooding. This highly significant QTL (p<0.0001) is uniquely associated with flooding tolerance and is not associated with maturity, resistance to root rot disease or normal seed yields. The fact that it was found in both Archer x Noir and Archer x Minsoy populations demonstrates that it is not dependent on genetic background nor is it a statistical artifact. This QTL was used in marker aided selection to create NIL from the Asgrow A5403 x Archer and Pioneer 9641 x Archer crosses that differ at this locus. These lines were field tested for flooding tolerance at two locations in Arkansas and Texas. The results will be reported.