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Identification of mega‐environments in Europe and effect of allelic variation at maturity E loci on adaptation of European soybean
Author(s) -
Kurasch Alena K.,
Hahn Volker,
Leiser Willmar L.,
Vollmann Johann,
Schori Arnold,
Bétrix ClaudeAlain,
Mayr Bernhard,
Winkler Johanna,
Mechtler Klemens,
Aper Jonas,
Sudaric Aleksandra,
Pejic Ivan,
Sarcevic Hrvoje,
Jeanson Patrice,
Balko Christiane,
Signor Marco,
Miceli Fabiano,
Strijk Peter,
Rietman Hendrik,
Muresanu Eugen,
Djordjevic Vuk,
Pospišil Ana,
Barion Giuseppe,
Weigold Peter,
Streng Stefan,
Krön Matthias,
Würschum Tobias
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12896
Subject(s) - biology , maturity (psychological) , adaptation (eye) , cultivar , haplotype , allele , germplasm , agriculture , phenotypic trait , genetic variation , genetics , phenotype , gene , horticulture , ecology , political science , neuroscience , law
Soybean cultivation holds great potential for a sustainable agriculture in Europe, but adaptation remains a central issue. In this large mega‐environment (MEV) study, 75 European cultivars from five early maturity groups (MGs 000–II) were evaluated for maturity‐related traits at 22 locations in 10 countries across Europe. Clustering of the locations based on phenotypic similarity revealed six MEVs in latitudinal direction and suggested several more. Analysis of maturity identified several groups of cultivars with phenotypic similarity that are optimally adapted to the different growing regions in Europe. We identified several haplotypes for the allelic variants at the E1 , E2 , E3 and E4 genes, with each E haplotype comprising cultivars from different MGs. Cultivars with the same E haplotype can exhibit different flowering and maturity characteristics, suggesting that the genetic control of these traits is more complex and that adaptation involves additional genetic pathways, for example temperature requirement. Taken together, our study allowed the first unified assessment of soybean‐growing regions in Europe and illustrates the strong effect of photoperiod on soybean adaptation and MEV classification, as well as the effects of the E maturity loci for soybean adaptation in Europe.