Grouping conformity of soybean advanced lines and varieties using microsatellite markers and drought stress tolerance indices in Rasht and Gonbad-Kavous

The complexity of the genetic control of drought tolerance makes inevitable using of molecular methods with biometric approaches to its improvement in plants. Present study was conducted by 121 advanced lines and varieties of soybean under two moisture levels, normal and drought stress with 21 microsatellite markers linked to drought tolerance in two regions, namely, Rasht and Gonbad-Kavous. Grouping of genotypes using cluster analysis based on stress tolerance index (STI), geometric mean productivity (GMP), mean productivity (MP), yield index (YI) and plant yield in normal and stress condition allocated them to three clusters sensitive, semi-sensitive and tolerant in both of regions. According to the results, genotypes 8, 9, 11, 25, 34, 37, 42, 44, 49, 63, 66 and 86 identified as tolerant genotypes in both regions. In addition, cluster analysis based on microsatellite markers divided lines and varieties to three groups. Comparison of three dendrograms represented a high conformity among clustering. In addition, the stepwise regression analysis revealed Satt454, Satt142, Satt648 and Satt345 had a significant relationship to tolerant indices and explained between 4-15 percent of variation variably. The results could be a conformation to importance of these microsatellites in association with genomic regions related to drought tolerance in present genetic background. It is expected to use of these validated markers to improve of soybean against to drought stress.