Genetic mapping and validation of SSR markers linked to leafet shape in soybean using a recombinant inbred line population

The leafet shape in soybean is an important trait and is genetically controlled by a single Ln locus. The narrow leafet shape is associated with high photosynthetic efciency and a higher number of seeds per pod. The current study involves the genetic mapping of SSR markers linked to leafet shape in a F₂₈ soybean recombinant inbred population and validation in diferent genetic backgrounds. A total of 240 SSR markers were used for bulked segregant analysis and six SSR markers (Sat_105, BARCSOYSSR_20_0813, BARCSOYSSR_20_0839, BARCSOYSSR_20_0846, BARCSOYSSR_20_0850, and BARCSOYSSR_20_0855) located on chromosome 20 were found to be linked to leafet shape locus. The linkage analysis distributed these six SSR markers and leafet shape (Ln) locus in one linkage group within a map distance of 11.5 cM. BARCSOYSSR_20_0839 and BARCSOYSSR_20_0846 were the two most tightly linked SSR markers and fanked the Ln locus at a distance of 0.3 cM and 1.8 cM, respectively. The markers selection efciency varied from 86.6 to 99.4 per cent. The specifcity of tightly linked SSR markers for leafet shape was confrmed by validation on 24 diferent soybean genotypes. The SSR markers successfully distinguished the narrow leafet genotypes from broad leafet genotypes, indicating their specifcity to leafet shape locus and thus ofer scope for further exploitation.