| Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merill] is a major crop due to high seed protein, isoflavone and oil contents. The aim here was to find loci underlying agronomic traits with new markers and new trait data. Genetic analyses of these traits were carried out in field experiments of 100 'Essex' x 'Forrest' (ExF) recombinant inbred lines. Trait data analysis for insect leaf herbivory, yield, seed protein, oil, water and isoflavone content and mapping the underlying QTL identified candidate genes. Seed protein content was positively correlated with seed yield but negatively correlated with seed oil. Seed isoflavone content did not correlate with herbivory but did negatively correlate with seed yield. Two measures of herbivory; pest incidence and pest severity, showed a strong genetic component but did not correlate with any other trait. QTL associations ranged from 5 loci for total glycitein to 1 for many other traits. Sixty eight QTL were found in this study, including 10 new QTL underlying 9 previously characterized traits derived for the 27 new markers added to the existing ExF mapping file. |
