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Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations of Quantitative Traits in Two Long‐Term, Randomly Mated Soybean Populations
Author(s) -
Recker Jill R.,
Burton Joseph W.,
Cardinal Andrea,
Miranda Lilian
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2013.07.0447
Subject(s) - biology , sterility , linkage disequilibrium , trait , pleiotropy , genetic correlation , mating , genotype , genetic variation , genetics , phenotype , gene , single nucleotide polymorphism , computer science , programming language
The genetic effects of long‐term random mating and natural selection aided by genetic male sterility were evaluated in two soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] populations designated RSII and RSIII. These populations were evaluated in the field at three locations, each with two replications. Genotypic and phenotypic correlations were estimated to determine the effects of 26 generations of random mating. Data was collected on flowering date (R2), maturity date (R8), plant height, lodging, yield, seed weight, protein concentration, and oil concentration. The genotypic correlation between yield and protein was not significant and small (<|0.2|) in both populations, however negative in RSII. The genotypic correlation between yield and oil was not significant but positive in both populations. In contrast, for both populations the genotypic correlations between protein and oil were significantly negative and large (>|0.5|). As these populations were randomly mated for many generations, linkage phase disequilibrium is likely close to zero; therefore, it was concluded that pleiotropic effects, probably caused by interrelated physiological processes, maintain the negative association between oil and protein. The genetic correlations between yield and protein or oil in these populations, however, do suggest that with the right breeding scheme, the negative associations can be reduced and allow for improvement in more than one trait simultaneously.