Soybean aphid resistance genes in the soybean cultivars Dowling and Jackson map to linkage group M

The soybean aphid [Aphis glycines Matsumura] is an important pest of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in North America. Single dominant genes in the cultivars 'Dowling' and 'Jackson' control resistance to the soybean aphid. The gene in Dowling was named Rag1, and the genetic relationship between Rag1 and the gene in Jackson is not known. The objectives of this study were to map the locations of Rag1 and the Jackson gene onto the soybean genetic map. Segregation of aphid resistance and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in F (2:3) populations developed from crosses between Dowling and the two susceptible soybean cultivars 'Loda' and 'Williams 82', and between Jackson and Loda, were analyzed. Both Rag1 and the Jackson gene segregated 1:2:1 in the F (2:3) populations and mapped to soybean linkage group M between the markers Satt435 and Satt463. Rag1 mapped 4.2 cM from Satt435 and 7.9 cM from Satt463. The Jackson gene mapped 2.1 cM from Satt435 and 8.2 cM from Satt463. Further tests to determine genetic allelism between Rag1 and the Jackson gene are in progress. The SSR markers flanking these resistance genes are being used in marker-assisted selection for aphid resistance in soybean breeding programs.