Validation of Drought Tolerance Gene-linked Microsatellite Markers and Their Efficiency for Diversity Assessment in a Set of Soybean Genotypes

Aim: Soybean is well-thought-out to be a major crop owing to its significant involvement as vegetable oil and protein in human diet. However, inopportunely, its production has been melodramatically declined attributable to the commonness of drought related stress.

Study Design: During the present study a total of 53 soybean genotypes were selected. For molecular diversity analysis as well as validation total 12 SSR markers were used. Molecular screening of soybean genotypes was done to determine the efficiency of available markers in genetic diversity analysis as well as their validation on the basis of their association with drought tolerance gene.

Place and Duration of the Study: The present study was conducted at Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Gwalior, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, M.P., India during the year 2018 - 2019.

Methodology: Template DNA of all 53 selected soybean genotypes extracted for molecular screening. The current investigation has been accomplished to validate the available SSR markers with their efficiency in genetic diversity analysis in a set of soybean genotypes.

Results: Among applied drought tolerance gene-linked 12 SSR molecular markers, the highest genetic diversity (0.6629) was noticed in Satt520 while lowest (0.0370) was in Satt557 with an average of 0. 3746.While, the highest PIC value was 0.5887 prearranged by Satt520 and lowest 0.0363 by Satt557 with the mean worth of 0.3063.

Conclusion: Dendrogram constructed on the basis of banding profile of employed markers was able to discriminate some putative drought tolerant genotypes i.e., JS97-52, JS95-60 from rest of the genotypes. The results of the present examination may donate towards enhancement of soybean genotypes to bread drought tolerant varieties.