arrays, and large scale re-sequencing of soybean genomes and comparison of
homologous segments. These resources and the resultant studies have shed much
light on the structure, organization, and evolution of the soybean genome. Tremendous progress has been made in the mapping and molecular breeding for various
abiotic stresses in soybean. However, genes for many quantitative traits of economic
interest are yet to be identified. A lot of genotypic and phenotypic information needs
to be generated for identification and characterization of gene associated with abiotic
stresses. Once the underlying gene sequence is fully characterized, haplotype analysis of the structural variants identified in the underlying genes for quantitative trait of
interest could discover novel and useful alleles. The knowledge of gene function
generated through QTL mapping, gene identification and characterization and
resulted development of functional markers through allele mining may be translated
in to a useful product using genomics assisted breeding approaches for drought
tolerance. The latest genome editing tools provide opportunity to overcome certain limitations via creation of variations in the soybean genome. Such approaches
can reduce soybean breeding time greatly for production of new varieties/ transgenic
plants with desired traits such as abiotic stress tolerance. Due to these advances, we
will be able to further explore genomic approaches to the elucidation of key genes or
functional components that control complex drought related agronomical and physiological traits in soybean. Breeding approaches with potentially effective plant
genetic resources (PGR), high hybridization efficiencies, and precise phenotyping
facilities help realize climate-smart drought-tolerant varieties with adaptability to the
Target Environment, sustaining long-term profitability of farmers in soybean cultivation, facing worse drought-trodden situation globally.
Acknowledgements We are thankful to the Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research,
Indore, for useful suggestions and inputs. We acknowledge ICAR-National Agricultural Science
Fund (NASF) for financial support.
References
Abd El-Daim IA, Bejai S, Fridborg I, Meijer J (2018) Identifying potential molecular factors
involved in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 5113 mediated abiotic stress tolerance in wheat. Plant
Biol. https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12680
Abdel-Haleem H, Lee GJ, Boerma RH (2011) Identification of QTL for increased fibrous roots in
soybean. Theor Appl Genet 122(5):935–946
Abdel-Haleem H, Carter TE Jr, Purcell LC, King CA, Ries LL, Chen P, Schapaugh W Jr, Sinclair
TR, Boerma HR (2012) Mapping of quantitative trait loci for canopy-wilting trait in soybean
(Glycine max L. Merr). Theor Appl Genet 125(5):837–846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122012-1876-9
Akond M, Schoener L, Kantartzi S, Meksem K, Song Q, Wang D et al (2013) A SNP-based genetic
linkage map of soybean using the soy SNP 6K Illumina Infinium bead Chip genotyping array. J
Plant Genom Sci 1:80–89. https://doi.org/10.5147/jpgs.2013.0090
Alidoust D, Isoda A (2013) Effect of γFe2O3 NPs on photosynthetic characteristics of soybean
(Glycine max (L.) Merr): foliar spray versus soil amendments. Acta Physiol Plant
35:3365–3375
Annual Report (2019) ICAR – Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore, India
4 Breeding and Molecular Approaches for Evolving Drought-Tolerant Soybeans
115
homologous segments. These resources and the resultant studies have shed much
light on the structure, organization, and evolution of the soybean genome. Tremendous progress has been made in the mapping and molecular breeding for various
abiotic stresses in soybean. However, genes for many quantitative traits of economic
interest are yet to be identified. A lot of genotypic and phenotypic information needs
to be generated for identification and characterization of gene associated with abiotic
stresses. Once the underlying gene sequence is fully characterized, haplotype analysis of the structural variants identified in the underlying genes for quantitative trait of
interest could discover novel and useful alleles. The knowledge of gene function
generated through QTL mapping, gene identification and characterization and
resulted development of functional markers through allele mining may be translated
in to a useful product using genomics assisted breeding approaches for drought
tolerance. The latest genome editing tools provide opportunity to overcome certain limitations via creation of variations in the soybean genome. Such approaches
can reduce soybean breeding time greatly for production of new varieties/ transgenic
plants with desired traits such as abiotic stress tolerance. Due to these advances, we
will be able to further explore genomic approaches to the elucidation of key genes or
functional components that control complex drought related agronomical and physiological traits in soybean. Breeding approaches with potentially effective plant
genetic resources (PGR), high hybridization efficiencies, and precise phenotyping
facilities help realize climate-smart drought-tolerant varieties with adaptability to the
Target Environment, sustaining long-term profitability of farmers in soybean cultivation, facing worse drought-trodden situation globally.
Acknowledgements We are thankful to the Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research,
Indore, for useful suggestions and inputs. We acknowledge ICAR-National Agricultural Science
Fund (NASF) for financial support.
References
Abd El-Daim IA, Bejai S, Fridborg I, Meijer J (2018) Identifying potential molecular factors
involved in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 5113 mediated abiotic stress tolerance in wheat. Plant
Biol. https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12680
Abdel-Haleem H, Lee GJ, Boerma RH (2011) Identification of QTL for increased fibrous roots in
soybean. Theor Appl Genet 122(5):935–946
Abdel-Haleem H, Carter TE Jr, Purcell LC, King CA, Ries LL, Chen P, Schapaugh W Jr, Sinclair
TR, Boerma HR (2012) Mapping of quantitative trait loci for canopy-wilting trait in soybean
(Glycine max L. Merr). Theor Appl Genet 125(5):837–846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122012-1876-9
Akond M, Schoener L, Kantartzi S, Meksem K, Song Q, Wang D et al (2013) A SNP-based genetic
linkage map of soybean using the soy SNP 6K Illumina Infinium bead Chip genotyping array. J
Plant Genom Sci 1:80–89. https://doi.org/10.5147/jpgs.2013.0090
Alidoust D, Isoda A (2013) Effect of γFe2O3 NPs on photosynthetic characteristics of soybean
(Glycine max (L.) Merr): foliar spray versus soil amendments. Acta Physiol Plant
35:3365–3375
Annual Report (2019) ICAR – Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore, India
4 Breeding and Molecular Approaches for Evolving Drought-Tolerant Soybeans
115