| Abstract: | Crop yields are reduced by drought, diseases, and deficiencies that reduce plant height in many species. Conversely plants that are too tall may lodge to reduce harvestable yield. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for plant height (PLH), internode lengths (INL), and flower color (FLC) traits in soybean using mainly microsatellite markers and a recombi- nant inbred line () population derived from ÔEssexÕ and ÔForrestÕ. A total of 14 QTL for the 3 traits were located on 7 different linkage groups (LG). Twelve QTL for INL were identified on LGs A2, C2, E, F, G, I, and K. LOD scores ranged from 2..53 to 4.48 and R2 from 18.4 to 33.7 %. One QTL for PLH (qPLH) was identified on LG F by the marker interval Satt554-CCA19 and has peak LOD scores of 4.63 with an R2 of 25.0%. One QTL for FLC (qFLC) was identified on LG G by the marker Satt122 and has peak LOD scores of 2.60 with an R2 of 15.5%. The QTL presented here are important to plant height manipulation during soybean breeding to produce superior high yielding cultivars and germ- plasm. |