Positioning the wp flower color locus on the soybean genome map

The wp allele generates a pink flowered phenotype in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Genotypes with W1-wp wp are associated with larger seed size and higher seed protein content. The influence of a single locus on the anthocyanin pathway and seed protein accumulation has not been documented in other species. It is of interest to clone wp by initially identifying linked molecular markers. The objective of this research was to use restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers to position time wp locus on the soybean public genetic map. Of the 74 markers tested, two RFLP and 14 SSR markers were identified as linked to wp. The two RFLP markers linked to wp in this study were previously reported to be associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling seed protein in a G. soja Siebold and Zucc. x G. max population. It is proposed that wp is located between RFLP locus K011 and SSR locus Satt600. Time molecular markers linked to wp were located on linkage group D1b+W of the public soybean genetic map. The knowledge of linked molecular markers will assist in cloning wp, potentially leading to further characterization of how wp influences the anthocyanin pathway and seed protein accumulation.