Usage of molecular genetic markers for identification of gens of photoperiodic sensitivity in soybean breeding germplasm

Soybean is one of the important oil and forage crops. It contains large amounts of oil, protein, vitamins, and other valuable nutrients. Annually, sowing area under soybean in Russia enlarges towards central and Siberian regions. However, soybean is very sensitive to photoperiod that is a key factor in regulation of soybean growth and development. The identification of gens controlling a photoperiodic sensitivity in soybeans is important for breeding of new adaptive cultivars. DNA-markers are an effective instrument for the selection of valuable genotypes from breeding germplasm. In this work, we identified gens contributing the most of decrease in soybean sensitivity to a day length. There were estimated six cultivars, five lines F6-F7, and five hybrids F1 of soybean. We used six molecular markers. Due to results, the early maturing cultivars Elana and Barguzin had the largest amount of recessive alleles; the cultivar Mamont had the largest amount of dominant alleles that characterizes it as middle maturing. The rest samples had two or three recessive alleles and belong to maturity groups from early to middle early. The analysis of hybrid combinations showed that a molecular marker for a Е3-gen is inherited co-dominantly. This allowed using it to control transferring of desired gens at crosses in progeny. Thus, the usage of the molecular-genetic markers was effective in selection by a studied trait and can be used in the breeding process.