Loci associated charcoal rot drought complex tolerance in soybean

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying soybean plants that are tolerant, have improved tolerance or are susceptible to Charcoal Rot Drought Complex. The methods use molecular genetic markers to identify, select and/or construct tolerant plants or identify and counter-select susceptible plants. Soybean plants that display tolerance or improved tolerance to Charcoal Rot Drought Complex that are generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of selecting a first soybean plant or germplasm that displays tolerance or improved tolerance to Charcoal Rot Drought Complex (CRDC), the method comprising:
 (a) isolating nucleic acids from a genome of the first soybean plant or germplasm;   (b) detecting in the first soybean plant or germplasm at least one allele of a quantitative trait locus that is associated with the tolerance or improved tolerance, wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval selected from the group consisting of (i) a chromosomal interval flanked by and including markers Satt286 and Satt371 on linkage group C2, (ii) a chromosomal interval flanked by and including markers Satt575 and Sat_136 on linkage group E, (iii) a chromosomal interval flanked by and including markers Sat_158 and Satt434 on linkage group H, and (iv) a chromosomal interval flanked by and including markers Sat444 and Sat_331 on linkage group B1, wherein the at least one allele is detected using a composition comprising a detectable label; and,   (c) selecting said first soybean plant or germplasm, or selecting a progeny of said first soybean plant or germplasm, wherein the plant, germplasm or progeny thereof comprise at least one allele associated with tolerance or improved tolerance to CRDC.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval flanked by and including Satt286 and Satt371 on linkage group C2. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval flanked by and including Sat_238 and Sat_252 on linkage group C2. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is Sct_028. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one allele of the quantitative trait locus comprises Sct_028:allele-3. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval flanked by and including Satt575 and Sat_136 on linkage group E. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval flanked by and including Satt411 and Satt720 on linkage group E. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is Satt512. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one allele of the quantitative trait locus comprises Satt512:allele-2 or Satt512:allele-5. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval flanked by and including Sat_158 and Satt434 on linkage group H. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval flanked by and including Satt181 and Sat_218 on linkage group H. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is P13158A. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one allele of the quantitative trait locus comprises P13158A:allele-2. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval flanked by and including Sat444 and Sat_331 on linkage group B1. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is localized to a chromosomal interval flanked by and including Satt359 and R244_1 on linkage group B1. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantitative trait locus is S63880-CB. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising crossing said selected first soybean plant or germplasm with a second soybean plant or germplasm to introgress said quantitative trait locus into progeny soybean germplasm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second soybean plant or germplasm displays less tolerance to CRDC as compared to the first soybean plant or germplasm, and wherein the introgressed soybean plant or germplasm displays an increased tolerance to CRDC as compared to the second plant or germplasm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising
 a) analyzing progeny soybean germplasm to determine the presence of tolerance to CRDC; and   b) selecting progeny soybean germplasm that tests positive for the presence of tolerance to CRDC as being soybean germplasm into which germplasm having said quantitative trait locus has been introgressed.   
     
     
         20 . An introgressed soybean plant or germplasm produced by the method of  claim 17 .