Abstract: 【Objective】Leaf senescence is a character of plant development, Delayed leaf senescence or stay green character has received considerable attention because of its negative impact on photosynthesis and its role in nutrient redistribution within the plant. 【Method】RIL-1 and 2 populations were used identified QTLs associated with leaf senescence, and correlation between leaf senescence and yield traits were also conducted. 【Result】The primary results indicated that three QTLs for leaf senescence were detected and mapped on LG-C1, D1b+W and O, each QTL explained 5.8~13.7% of total variation. Leaf senescence significantly and positively correlated with biological yield, seed yield, plant height and days to maturity in both populations except lower correlation with days to maturity in RIL-2. However, different correlation between leaf senescence and harvest index were observed, negatively and significantly in RIL-1 and positively and significantly in RIL-2. 【Conclusion】These indicated that harvest index may be increased through the selection of delayed leaf senescence in soybean breeding, but breeding materials with high potential of yield couldn’t be obtained.

Key words: leaf senesence, quantitative trait loci, soybean