Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Korean Soybean Landrace (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Two hundred and sixty Korean soybean landrace accessions were analyzed for polymorphism at 92 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci. The 995 identified alleles served as raw data for estimating genetic diversity and population structure. The number of alleles at a locus ranged from three to 27 with a mean of 10.4 alleles per locus. FST values estimated by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) using SSR data set were 0.018, 0.027, and 0.016 for usage, collection site and maturity groups, respectively, indicating little genetic differentia- tion. The model-based clustering analysis placed the accessions into three clusters (K = 3) with 0.0503 of FST, indicating moderate genetic differentiation. Duncan's Multiple Range Test at K = 3 on the basis of 18 quantitative traits revealed that one cluster was mainly differenti- ated from the other two clusters by seed related traits and the other two clusters were differentiated from each other by biochemical traits. Genetic structure of Korean soybean landraces was differentiated by model-based clustering and supported by their phenotypic traits in part. This preliminary study could be the first step towards more efficient germplasm management and utilization of soybean landraces and helpful in association studies between genotypic and phenotypic traits in Korean soybean landraces.