Detection and validation of QTLs for green stem disorder of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

In mechanically harvested soybean, green stem disorder (GSD) is an undesirable trait that causes greenstained seeds, which are graded lower in Japan. To obtain DNA markers for reduced GSD, we conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for 2 years using F4 and F5 lines from a cross between 'Suzuotome' (less GSD) and 'Fukuyutaka' (more GSD). We validated the effect of a detected QTL for GSD by first iden- tifying F4 or F5 plants in which one or more markers in the QTL region were heterozygous. The F5 or F6 progeny of each plant was used to form a pair consisting of two groups in which the QTL region was homozygous for either the 'Suzuotome' or 'Fukuyutaka' allele in a similar genetic background, and the two groups within each pair were compared for GSD. Over 3 years of testing, the 'Suzuotome' allele of a QTL on chromosome 6 was found to reduce the level of GSD. This novel QTL was mapped to the region around DNA marker W06_0130, and was not closely linked to QTLs for important agronomic traits including yield components. Using this marker, the low level of GSD from 'Suzuotome' could be conferred to 'Fukuyutaka' or other high-GSD cultivars.