The soybean seed coat is a structure associated with seed germination, vigor and longevity. Soybean genotypes show genetic variability regarding the seed coat traits, which can be used in soybean breeding programs. The objectives of this study were: to analyze the genetic similarity of a segregant soybean population for morphological seed traits using morphological and molecular markers (AFLP, RAPD and SSR) and to establish the correlation between the dissimilarity matrices obtained using different marker classes. The population was obtained by crossing between two contrasting soybean genotypes: the cultivar CD 202 (female parent) with a yellow coat, and the genotype TP (male parent) with a black coat. The morphological traits evaluated were coat and hilum colors, hilum spread, pubescence and flower colors. Molecular markers were obtained by AFLP, RAPD and SSR techniques. Based on estimated similarity matrices, dendrograms were developed and the correlations between all matrix pairs and dendrograms estimated. The results showed that AFLP markers are more efficient for accessing the genetic variability of this population. Only the dissimilarity matrix and the dendrogram obtained by AFLP markers showed a positive correlation with the dissimilarity matrix and dendrogram obtained by morphological data.
Glycine max; seed coat; molecular markers
