AUTHOR=Awal Khan Mohammad Abdul , Zhang Shouwei , Emon Reza Mohammad , Chen Fulu , Song Wenwen , Wu Tingting , Yuan Shan , Wu Cunxiang , Hou Wensheng , Sun Shi , Fu Yongfu , Jiang Bingjun , Han Tianfu 

TITLE=CONSTANS Polymorphism Modulates Flowering Time and Maturity in Soybean

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.817544

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.817544

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>CONSTANS</italic> (<italic>CO</italic>) plays a critical role in the photoperiodic flowering pathway. However, the function of soybean <italic>CO</italic> orthologs and the molecular mechanisms in regulating flowering remain largely unknown. This study characterized the natural variations in <italic>CO</italic> family genes and their association with flowering time and maturity in soybeans. A total of 21 soybean <italic>CO</italic> family genes (<italic>GmCOL</italic>s) were cloned and sequenced in 128 varieties covering 14 known maturity groups (MG 0000-MG X from earliest to latest maturity). Regarding the whole genomic region involving these genes, <italic>GmCOL1</italic>, <italic>GmCOL3</italic>, <italic>GmCOL8</italic>, <italic>GmCOL9</italic>, <italic>GmCOL10</italic>, and <italic>GmCOL13</italic> were conserved, and the remaining 15 genes showed genetic variation that was brought about by mutation, namely, all single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions-deletions (InDels). In addition, a few genes showed some strong linkage disequilibrium. Point mutations were found in 15 <italic>GmCOL</italic> genes, which can lead to changes in the potential protein structure. Early flowering and maturation were related to eight genes (<italic>GmCOL1</italic>/<italic>3</italic>/<italic>4</italic>/<italic>8</italic>/<italic>13</italic>/<italic>15</italic>/<italic>16</italic>/<italic>19</italic>). For flowering and maturation, 11 genes (<italic>GmCOL2</italic>/<italic>5</italic>/<italic>6</italic>/<italic>14</italic>/<italic>20</italic>/<italic>22</italic>/<italic>23</italic>/<italic>24</italic>/<italic>25</italic>/<italic>26</italic>/<italic>28</italic>) expressed divergent physiognomy. Haplotype analysis indicated that the haplotypes of <italic>GmCOL5-Hap2</italic>, <italic>GmCOL13-Hap2/3</italic>, and <italic>GmCOL28-Hap2</italic> were associated with flowering dates and soybean maturity. This study helps address the role of <italic>GmCOL</italic> family genes in adapting to diverse environments, particularly when it is necessary to regulate soybean flowering dates and maturity.</p>