Development and application of a novel genome-wide SNP array reveals domestication history in soybean

Wang, J., Chu, S., Zhang, H. et al. Development and application of a novel genome-wide SNP array reveals domestication history in soybean. Sci Rep 6, 20728 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep20728

Genetic dissection of yield-related traits via genome-wide association analysis across multiple environments in wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc.)

Hu, D., Zhang, H., Du, Q. et al. Genetic dissection of yield-related traits via genome-wide association analysis across multiple environments in wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc.). Planta 251, 39 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-019-03329-6

Domestication of soybeans occurred under the intense human-directed selections aimed at developing high-yielding lines. Tracing the domestication history and identifying the genes underlying soybean domestication require further exploration. Here, we developed a high-throughput NJAU 355 K SoySNP array and used this array to study the genetic variation patterns in 367 soybean accessions, including 105 wild soybeans and 262 cultivated soybeans. The population genetic analysis suggests that cultivated soybeans have tended to originate from northern and central China, from where they spread to other regions, accompanied with a gradual increase in seed weight. Genome-wide scanning for evidence of artificial selection revealed signs of selective sweeps involving genes controlling domestication-related agronomic traits including seed weight. To further identify genomic regions related to seed weight, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted across multiple environments in wild and cultivated soybeans. As a result, a strong linkage disequilibrium region on chromosome 20 was found to be significantly correlated with seed weight in cultivated soybeans. Collectively, these findings should provide an important basis for genomic-enabled breeding and advance the study of functional genomics in soybean.

Genotype information for 367 soybean accessions: Link to Data store directory

Genotype information for 96 wild soybean accessions: Link to Data store directory