School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource and Germplasm Enhancement (MOA), Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 May 30;25(11):5991. doi: 10.3390/ijms25115991.
The branch number is a crucial factor that influences density tolerance and is closely associated with the yield of soybean. However, its molecular regulation mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study cloned a candidate gene for regulating the soybean branch number based on the rice homologous gene. Meanwhile, the genetic diversity of the was analyzed using 3599 resequencing data and identified 55 SNP/InDel variations, which were categorized into seven haplotypes. Evolutionary analysis classified these haplotypes into two groups: and . Soybean varieties carrying the haplotype exhibited a significantly lower branch number compared with those carrying the haplotype. Association analysis between the variation sites and branch number phenotypes revealed a significant correlation between the promoter variations and the branch number. Promoter activity assays demonstrated that the promoter displayed significantly higher activity than the promoter. Transgenic experiments confirmed that the plants that carried the promoter exhibited a significantly lower branch number compared with those that carried the promoter. These findings indicate that the variation in the promoter affected its transcription level, leading to differences in the soybean branch number. This study provides valuable molecular targets for improving the soybean plant structure.
分支数量是影响密度耐受性的关键因素，与大豆的产量密切相关。然而，其分子调控机制仍知之甚少。本研究基于水稻同源基因，克隆了一个调控大豆分支数量的候选基因。同时，利用 3599 条重测序数据对 进行了遗传多样性分析，鉴定出 55 个 SNP/InDel 变异，分为 7 种单倍型。进化分析将这些单倍型分为两组：和。携带 单倍型的大豆品种的分支数明显低于携带 单倍型的品种。变异位点与分支数表型的关联分析表明，启动子变异与分支数之间存在显著相关性。启动子活性测定表明， 启动子的活性明显高于 启动子。转基因实验证实，携带 启动子的植株的分支数明显低于携带 启动子的植株。这些发现表明， 启动子的变异影响了其转录水平，导致大豆分支数的差异。本研究为改良大豆株型结构提供了有价值的分子靶标。
