Inheritance and QTL mapping of related root traits in soybean at the seedling stage.

KEY MESSAGE: This study provides a foundation for further research on root genetic regulation and molecular breeding with emphasis on correlations among root traits to ensure robust root growth and well-developed root systems. A set of 447 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Jingdou23 (cultivar, female parent) and ZDD2315 (semi-wild, male parent) were used to analyze inheritance and detect QTLs related to root traits at the seedling stage using major gene plus polygene mixed inheritance analysis and composite interval mapping. The results showed that maximum root length (MRL) was controlled by three equivalent major genes, lateral root number (LRN) was controlled by two overlapping major genes, root weight (RW) and volume (RV) were controlled by four equivalent major genes. Hypocotyl length (HL) was controlled by four additive main genes, and hypocotyl weight (HW) was controlled by four additive and additive × additive epistatic, major genes; however, polygene effects were not detected in these traits. Shoot weight (SW) was controlled by multi-gene effects, but major gene effects were not detected. Twenty-four QTLs for MRL, LRN, RW, RV, SW, HL, HW were mapped on LG A1 (chromosome 5), LG A2 (chromosome 8), LG B1 (chromosome 11), LG B2 (chromosome 14), LG C2 (chromosome 6), LG D1b (chromosome 2), LG F_1 (chromosome 13), LG G (chromosome 18), LG H_1 (chromosome 12), LG H_2 (chromosome 12), LG I (chromosome 20), LG K_2 (chromosome 9), LG L (chromosome 19), LG M (chromosome 7), LG N (chromosome 3), LG O (chromosome 10), separately. Root traits were shown to have complex genetic mechanisms at the seedling stage, SW was controlled by multi-gene effects, and the other six traits were controlled by major gene effects. It is concluded that correlations among root traits must be considered to improve the development of beneficial root traits.