MENDELIZING QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI THAT UNDERLIE RESISTANCE TO SOYBEAN SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME

Author

Yi-Chen Lee, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

8-1-2016

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Plant and Soil Science

First Advisor

Lightfoot, David

Second Advisor

Kantartzi, Stella

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cultivars differ in their resistance to sudden death syndrome (SDS). The syndrome is caused by root colonization by Fusarium virguliforme (ex. F. solani f. sp. glycines). Breeding for improve SDS response has proven challenging, possible due to interactions among the 18 known loci for resistance. Four loci for resistance to SDS (cqRfs to cqRfs3) were found clustered within 20 cM of the rhg1 locus underlying resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) on chromosome 18. Another locus on chromosome 20 (cqRfs5) was reported to interact with this cluster. The aims of this study were to compare the inheritance of resistance to SDS in a near isogenic line (NIL) population that was fixed for resistance to SCN but still segregated at 2 of the 4 loci (cqRfs1 and cqRfs) for resistance to SDS on chromosome 18; to examine the interaction with the locus on chromosome 20; and to identify candidate regions underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL). Used were a near isogenic line population derived from residual heterozygosity in an F5:7 recombinant inbred line EF60 1-40; SDS response data from 2 locations and years; four microsatellite markers and six thousand SNP markers. Polymorphic regions were found from 2,788 to 8,938 Kbp on chromosome 18 and 33,100 to 34,943 Kbp on chromosome 20. Both regions were significantly (0.005 < P > 0.0001) associated with resistance to SDS. A fine map was constructed that Mendelized the three loci. Substitution maps suggested the two loci on chromosome 18 were actually 3 loci (cqRfs, cqRfs1 and cqRfs19). Candidate genes for cqRfs19 were identified in a small region of the genome sequence of soybean. An epistatic interaction was inferred where the allele of loci on chromosome 18 determined the value of the locus on chromosome 20. It was concluded that SDS loci are both complex and interacting which may explain the slow progress in breeding for resistance to SDS.