Natural GmACO1 allelic variations confer drought tolerance and influence nodule formation in soybean

• Published in: aBIOTECH Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 351 - 355
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhifang, Ma, Junkui, Yang, Xia, Liang, Shan, Liu, Yucheng, Yuan, Yaqin, Liang, Qianjin, Shen, Yanting, Zhou, Guoan, Zhang, Min, Tian, Zhixi, Liu, Shulin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Agriculture; Bioinformatics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Letter to the Editor; Life Sciences; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Sciences; Ethylene biosynthesis; Nodule formation; GWAS; Soybean; Drought tolerance
• ISSN: 2662-1738; 2096-6326; 2662-1738
• DOI: 10.1007/s42994-024-00160-w

Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of the most important, but a drought-sensitive, crops. Identifying the genes controlling drought tolerance is important in soybean breeding. Here, through a genome-wide association study, we identified one significant association locus, located on chromosome 8, which conferred drought tolerance variations in a natural soybean population. Allelic analysis and genetic validation demonstrated that GmACO1 , encoding for a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase, was the causal gene in this association locus, and positively regulated drought tolerance in soybean. Meanwhile, we determined that GmACO1 expression was reduced after rhizobial infection, and that GmACO1 negatively regulated soybean nodule formation. Overall, our findings provide insights into soybean cultivars for future breeding.