Genetic Diversity and Stress-Resistant Gene Resource Mining of Wild Soybean (Glycine soja) Populations in East Asia

Abstract

Wild soybean (Glycine soja), the wild ancestor of cultivated soybean (Glycine max), harbors abundant genetic diversity and valuable stress-resistant traits, which are crucial for soybean genetic improvement and sustainable agriculture. In this study, we systematically analyzed the genetic diversity of 286 wild soybean populations collected from major distribution areas in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, and Russia Far East) using 32 SSR markers and whole-genome resequencing data. The results revealed high genetic diversity within East Asian wild soybean populations, with the Chinese populations showing the highest polymorphic information content (PIC = 0.782). Population structure analysis divided the tested populations into four distinct genetic clusters, corresponding to their geographical distributions. We identified 12 genomic regions significantly associated with drought resistance and 8 regions associated with salt tolerance through genome-wide association study (GWAS). Further functional annotation indicated that these regions contained 23 candidate stress-resistant genes, including transcription factors (e.g., NAC, MYB) and genes involved in osmotic adjustment and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the genetic diversity of East Asian wild soybean and identifies valuable stress-resistant gene resources, laying a foundation for the utilization of wild soybean in soybean breeding programs.

Next article in issue