Targeted association mapping demonstrating the complex molecular genetics of fatty acid formation in soybean

Background: The relative abundance of five dominant fatty acids (FAs) (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids) is a major factor determining seed quality in soybean. Methods: To clarify the currently poorly understood genetic architecture of FAs in soybean, targeted association analysis was conducted in 421 diverse accessions phenotyped in three environments and genotyped using 1536 pre-selected SNPs. Results: The population of 421 soybean accessions displayed significant genetic variation for each FA. Analysis of the molecular data revealed three subpopulations, which reflected a trend depending on latitude of cultivation. A total of 37 significant (p < 0.01) associations with FAs were identified by association mapping analysis. These associations were represented by 33 SNPs (occurring in 32 annotated genes); another four SNPs had a significant association with two different FAs due to pleiotropic interactions. The most significant associations were cross-verified by known genes/QTL or consistency across cultivation year and subpopulations. Conclusion: The detected marker-trait associations represent a first important step towards the implementation of molecular-marker-based selection of FA composition with the potential to substantially improve the seed quality of soybean with benefits for human health and for food processing.