Project Number: 1275-21000-263-28
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Apr 01, 2008
End Date: Mar 31, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this research is to define the positions of the quantitative trait loci (QTL) (genes or other genetic controlling elements) that produce a breeding line with soybean oil which has at least 50% oleic acid (mid-oleic soybean) versus the normal soybean oil with only 22% oleic acid. A second objective is to identify the specific DNA markers that can be used to select breeding lines that carry the mid-oleic trait.

Approach:
A total of 960 breeding lines from populations segregating for the mid-oleic trait will be analyzed with 1536 selected SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) DNA markers. These markers have been selected for high levels of polymorphism using 1) 96 diverse modern cultivars and 2) 96 diverse Plant Introductions from the soybean germplasm collection. The markers have also been selected to be evenly distributed across the 20 soybean linkage groups or chromosomes. Each breeding line will be analyzed with the 1536 SNP DNA markers. Collaborators will collect data on the level of fatty acids in each of the breeding lines. The analysis of the DNA marker data and the fatty acid data will allow us to associate specific DNA markers with the genes or quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling fatty acid content in the soybean oil. The DNA markers identified in this fashion can be used in marker assisted selection to identify breeding lines with the mid-oleic trait (greater than 50% oleic acid) in the soybean oil.