THE PLANT CELL, Vol 1, Issue 3 329-337, Copyright © 1989 by American Society of Plant Biologists
Inheritance and Organization of Glycinin Genes in Soybean
T. J. Cho, C. S. Davies and N. C. Nielsen
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service and the Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
Five genes (Gy1, through Gy5) encode most of the subunits that are
assembled into glycinin, a predominant seed storage protein found in
soybeans. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms are described that
identify four of these five genes (Gy1/Gy2, Gy3, and Gy5). The fifth gene
(Gy4) is characterized by two alleles, one of which (gy4) causes absence of
the subunit. Genetic segregation studies indicate that the five genes are
located at four genetic loci within the genome. Gy1 and Gy2 are in a direct
tandem repeat at one locus, whereas there is a single glycinin gene at each
of the other three loci. All four loci segregate independently from one
another, and they also segregate independently from the genetic markers for
tawny/grey pubescence (T/t), purple/white flower color (W1/w1), light/dark
hilum pigmentation (l/ll), black/brown seed coat (R/r), and brown/tan pod
color (I1I1L2L2/I1I1I2I2). The latter genetic markers are located on
linkage groups 1 (t), 8 (w1), 7 (i), and 2 (r) in the soybean genome,
respectively.
