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A recent retrotransposon insertion of J caused E6 locus facilitating soybean adaptation into low latitude
Author(s) -
Fang Chao,
Liu Jun,
Zhang Ting,
Su Tong,
Li Shichen,
Cheng Qun,
Kong Lingping,
Li Xiaoming,
Bu Tiantian,
Li Haiyang,
Dong Lidong,
Lu Sijia,
Kong Fanjiang,
Liu Baohui
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of integrative plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.734
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1744-7909
pISSN - 1672-9072
DOI - 10.1111/jipb.13034
Subject(s) - biology , allele , locus (genetics) , retrotransposon , complementation , genetics , positional cloning , arabidopsis , gene , mutant , transposable element
Soybean ( Glycine max ) is an important legume crop that was domesticated in temperate regions. Soybean varieties from these regions generally mature early and exhibit extremely low yield when grown under inductive short‐day (SD) conditions at low latitudes. The long‐juvenile (LJ) trait, which is characterized by delayed flowering and maturity, and improved yield under SD conditions, allowed the cultivation of soybean to expand to lower latitudes. Two major loci control the LJ trait: J and E6 . In the current study, positional cloning, sequence analysis, and transgenic complementation confirmed that E6 is a novel allele of J , the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana EARLY FLOWERING 3 ( ELF3 ). The mutant allele e6 PG , which carries a Ty1/Copia ‐like retrotransposon insertion, does not suppress the legume‐specific flowering repressor E1 , allowing E1 to inhibit Flowering Locus T ( FT ) expression and thus delaying flowering and increasing yields under SD conditions. The e6 PG allele is a rare allele that has not been incorporated into modern breeding programs. The dysfunction of J might have greatly facilitated the adaptation of soybean to low latitudes. Our findings increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the LJ trait and provide valuable resources for soybean breeding.