Interested members of the University Community are invited to attend the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Master of Science of Huilin Hong of the Department of Plant Agriculture

Date: Friday, February 19, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM 
Method: Via Zoom Video Conferencing - https://zoom.us/j/93425873003?pwd=dlBNa1QzSjA4YzdtS1crQjZCWnpQQT09
Meeting ID: 934 2587 3003
Passcode: 202555 

Thesis Title: Genetic Analysis of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] Seed Quality Traits for Adaptation to Mega-environments of Canada and Ukraine  

Advisory Committee 
Dr. istvan Rajcan, Advisor
Dr. Milad Eskandari
Dr. K. Peter Pauls

Examination Committee
Dr. David Wolyn, Chair
Dr. Istvan Rajcan
Dr. Milad Eskandari
Dr. Lewis Lukens                           

ABSTRACT 

Soybean is the world’s largest oilseed and protein crop with Canada being the seventh largest producer. The interest in high quality Canadian soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) from Ukraine has provided potential opportunities for Canadian seed export. To adequately address a new overseas market potential and develop breeding strategies to address it, it is essential to understand the underlying genetic control and correlations associated with the important seed quality traits between the two mega-environments (MEs) in order to set up breeding programs targeting Ukraine. The objectives of this thesis were to: (1) determine the differences in the genetic control of seed quality traits between the Canadian and Ukrainian MEs as revealed by quantitative trait loci (QTL), and (2) determine the correlations between seed components and agronomic traits. A soybean diversity genomic panel consisting of 184 genotypes was used for the analyses. ME specific QTL (QTLSP) were identified for different seed components, but no ME universal QTL (QTLU) were identified across the MEs. Most of the correlations observed between the seed components as well as agronomic traits were consistent with previously reported results indicating similar patterns of relationship between the traits of interest across the MEs. The improved understanding regarding the genetic control and phenotypic correlations for seed components may facilitate future cultivar development for foreign markets.