Genetic and Linkage Analysis of Purple–blue Flower in Soybean

Flower color of soybean is primarily controlled by genes W1, W3, W4, Wm, and Wp. In addition, the soybean gene symbol W2, w2 produces purple–blue flower in combination with W1. This study was conducted to determine the genetic control of purple–blue flower of cultivar (cv). Nezumisaya. F1 plants derived from a cross between Nezumisaya and purple flower cv. Harosoy had purple flowers. Segregation of the F2 plants fitted a ratio of 3 purple:1 purple–blue. F3 lines derived from F2 plants with purple–blue flowers were fixed for purple–blue flowers, whereas those from F2 plants with purple flowers fitted a ratio of 1 fixed for purple flower:2 segregating for flower color. These results indicated that the flower color of Nezumisaya is controlled by a single gene whose recessive allele is responsible for purple–blue flower. Complementation analysis revealed that flower color of Nezumisaya is controlled by W2. Linkage mapping revealed that W2 is located in molecular linkage group B2. Sap obtained from banner petals of cvs. with purple flower had a pH value of 5.73–5.77, whereas that of cvs. with purple–blue flower had a value of 6.07–6.10. Our results suggested that W2 is responsible for vacuolar acidification of flower petals.