Toward a reference sequence of the soybean genome: A multiagency effort

Abstract

The face of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] genetics is set to change with the imminent genome sequence delivered by a triagency group [National Science Foundation (NSF), united States Department of Energy (USDOE), and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)]. The approaches and alacrity with which scientists will be able to solve biological questions and advance breeding lines will be dramatically enhanced. Questions remain though. How and in what form will the genome be sequenced? How will the genome sequence be linked to genetic and physical maps and how will all this information be accessible for biologists and breeders? In this article, we show how the genome is being sequenced and how various groups and agencies are working together to ensure that the sequence is immediately available and of use to soybean researchers. © Crop Science Society of America.