Identification and Fine Mapping of a Quantitative Trait Locus Controlling the Total Flower and Pod Numbers in Soybean

Total flower and pod numbers (TFPN) effective per plant (PNPP) are among the most important agronomic traits for soybean production. However, underlying genetic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we constructed a recombinant inbred line population derived from cross between JY73 (high TFPN) TJSLH (low to map loci two traits. total, six QTL TFPN five PNPP were identified, which on chromosome 4, named qFPN4, explained 9.2% 9.6% of phenotypic variation PNPP, respectively. Analysis residual heterozygous lines qFPN4 indicated that or was controlled by single dominant gene at locus delimited into ~2.62 Mb interval tightly linked an Indel marker C1-5. This mapping result further confirmed bulked segregant analysis (BSA) near isogenic lines. The genome-sequencing-based BSA also identified eight candidate genes carrying nonsynonymous SNPs and/or Indels; genes, Glyma.04G176600 Glyma.04G178900, nominated as promising based additional expression function analysis. These results improve our understanding indicate potential yield improvement.