Microsatellite markers reveal genetic diversity of wild soybean in different habitats and implications for conservation strategies (Glycine soja) in China

Wild soybean individuals were sampled from ten habitat sites in Beijing region, China and were assessed using 36 SSR markers for the genetic variation among the habitat subpopulations. AMOVA analysis showed 57.46 % inter-population and 42.54 % intrapopulation genetic variation. The genetic variation had geographical regionality. The drought-stressed and founder subpopulations intensively reduced genetic diversity, and along-river system habitats appeared to have closer genetic similarity. The bottleneck impact of drought stress appeared to be inferior to the founding effect on subpopulation genetic diversity but superior on genetically geographical grouping. Here, all the subpopulations were found to contain unique alleles. The phenotypic and genetic diversities had similarly fluctuated patterns across the subpopulations. These results here suggest that a conservation strategy should be taken: theoretically as many as possible populations are sampled to maximize the genetic diversity in ex situ conservation of wild soybean within an area in China. Spatial distance should be considered for isolating wild soybean populations when genetically modified soybeans are cultivated in China.