Population structure of wild soybean () based on SLAF-seq have implications for its conservation.

BACKGROUND

Sieb. & Zucc. is the wild ancestor from which the important crop plant soybean was bred. provides important germplasm resources for the breeding and improvement of cultivated soybean crops, however the species is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and is experiencing population declines across its natural range. Understanding the patterns of genetic diversity in populations can help to inform conservation practices.

METHODS

In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and differentiation of at different sites and investigated the gene flow within the species. We obtained 147 accessions collected from 16 locations across the natural range of the species from China, Korea and Japan. Samples were analyzed using SLAF-seq (Specific-Locus Amplified Fragment Sequencing).

RESULTS

We obtained a total of 56,489 highly consistent SNPs. Our results suggested that harbors relatively high diversity and that populations of this species are highly differentiated. The populations harboring high genetic diversity, especially KR, should be considered first when devising conservation plans for the protection of , and protection should be adopted in KR. populations from the Yangtze River, the Korean peninsula and northeastern China have a close relationship, although these areas are geographically disconnected. Other populations from north China clustered together. Analysis of gene flow suggested that historical migrations of may have occurred from the south northwards across the East-Asia land-bridge, but not across north China. All populations could be divided into one of two lineages, and these two lineages should be treated separately when formulating protection policies.