The molecular basis of seed coat pigmentation in Glycine max

Seed coat color in Glycine max is determined by the classically defined I locus which controls the presence or absence, as well as the spatial distribution of anthocyanin pigments in the seed coat. Commercially used soybean cultivars have yellow seed coats due to the presence of either the I or $i\sp i$ allele of the I locus. Spontaneous mutations from these alleles have given rise to pigmented seed coats (i) which have been preserved in the form of near isogenic lines. RFLP analysis conducted on near isogenic lines differing only in respect to the alleles at the I locus has shown that the dominant I allele (giving rise to yellow seed coats) can be associated with a 12.1 kb Hind III polymorphism related to CHS1 of the chalcone synthase (CHS) multigene family. Additionally, in many cases, mutations from the $i\sp i$ allele to the recessive i allele can be associated with the absence of a 2.3 kb Hind III CHS fragment which represents CHS4. Moreover, analysis of these mutations via PCR based mapping has shown that there is a mutation in the CHS4 promoter region. Linkage analysis conducted between two F2 populations segregating for seed coat color has shown that there is co-segregation between the I locus alleles and CHS polymorphisms as detected by RFLP and PCR. Additionally, northern blot analysis has shown that heterozygotes (I/i; yellow seed coats) have reduced levels of CHS expression suggesting that the CHS polymorphism associated with dominant I allele inhibits CHS expression. Finally, CHS gene specific expression in seed coats was assessed via RT-PCR and cDNA cloning. Results of this analysis suggest that multiple CHS genes are expressed in the soybean seed coat. In conclusion, there is an intimate relationship between the I locus and the CHS multigene family leading to the control of CHS molecular expression and CHS enzyme activity which ultimately gives rise to variation in soybean seed coat pigmentation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Crop Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Todd, Joselyn Joy

Contributors dc:contributor

• Vodkin, Lila O.

• Agriculture, Agronomy
• Biology, Molecular

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1995 Todd, Joselyn Joy

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9543749
(UMI)AAI9543749

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/21688