Association of microsatellite markers with contents of oil and protein in soybean

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the association of microsatellite markers located close to quantitative trait loci (QTL) described in the literature, with contents of oil and protein soybean genotypes cultivated in Brazil. Forty-nine soybean genotypes were evaluated in Viçosa, MG (12/2009), Visconde do Rio Branco, MG (2/2010), and São Gotardo, MG (2/2010 and 10/2011). A randomized complete block design, with three replicates, was used. The oil and protein contents were determined by infrared spectroscopy. A high genetic variability was observed for oil and protein contents. Among the 65 tested microsatellite markers, 35 showed significant association with at least one of these contents, but few of them were consistent with the change of environment. Considering the consistency of the association in all environments, the markers Satt239, Satt384, and Satt562 stand out for assisted selection as to oil and protein contents, whereas Satt310 stands out for the selection as to oil content, and Satt567, as to protein content.