Molecular mapping and confirmation of QTLs associated with oleic acid content in N00-3350 soybean

The fatty acid composition of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed affects the flavor, nutritional value, and stability of the oil. Increasing oleic acid content in soybean oil would reduce the need for hydrogenation, a process that creates unhealthy trans fatty acids. The objective of this study was to map and confirm the areas of the soybean genome associated with oleic acid content from the soybean line N00-3350 (~583 g [kg.sup.-1] oleic acid) using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. An [F.sub.2:3] population of 259 lines from the cross of G99-G725 x N00-3350 was used as a mapping population, and an [F.sub.2:3] population of 231 lines from the cross of G99-G3438 x N00-3350 was used for confirmation. Using single-factor analysis of variance, interval mapping, and composite interval mapping, six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for oleic acid content were found on linkage groups LG-A1 (Satt211, [R.sup.2] = 4%), LG-D2 (Satt389, [R.sup.2] = 6%), LG-G (Satt394, [R.sup.2] = 13%), LG-G (Satt191, [R.sup.2] = 7%), LG-L (Satt418, [R.sup.2] = 9%), and LG-L (Satt561, [R.sup.2] = 25%) in the G99-G725 x N00-3350 population. All six QTLs for oleic acid were confirmed in the G99-3438 x N00-3350 population. The designations cqOle-001, cqOle-002, cqOle-003, cqOle-004, cqOle-005, and cqOle-006 have been assigned to these confirmed QTLs by the Soybean Genetics Committee. The identification of SSR markers linked to the oleic acid QTLs will facilitate the use of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in soybean breeding programs to increase the oleic acid content in soybean seed.