Genotypic clustering of 51 soybean cultivars and wild forms using SSR-markers

Soybean cultivars are characterized mainly by morphological and biochemical traits. However, researchers encounter difficulties when trying to use these parameters in cultivar identification and differentiation, making it difficult to work with closely related cultivar lines. Microsatellite markers or SSRs (simple sequence repeats) are an excellent tool for variety identification and differentiation, revealing the degree of genetic relatedness and copyright protection. The aim of the research was to obtain molecular genetic formulas for cultivated and wild soybean varieties with subsequent identification of their genetic relatedness. The object of the study was 51 samples of soybean (39 cultivars and 12 wild forms). Genomic DNA was isolated from the studied samples and then amplified. The obtained amplicons were separated in 2% agarose gel and the length of the fragments was detected in two replications. Nine microsatellite loci (Satt1, Satt2, Satt5, Satt9, Soyhsp176, Satt681, Sat_263, Satt141, Satt181) were used for molecular genetic characterization. Results demonstrating the length of each locus were analyzed by the UPGMA algorithm to record genetic relatedness or remoteness. The molecular genetic formulae of the studied samples were obtained, which can be further used to compile genetic passports. Based on the UPGMA algorithm, 51 soybean genotypes were grouped into 13 main clusters. Most of the soybean wild forms growing in the Amur Region demonstrated genetic proximity due to belonging to three closely located clusters. However, the soybean wild form from the Khabarovsk Territory (Dikaya soya 31) and one of the forms from the Amur Region (KZ-6337) were genetically distant from other groups of soybean wild forms. These results indicate the adequacy of the use of 9 SSR locuses for identification tasks, identification of relatedness and further passportization of soybeans.