Introduction

The continuously enhanced productivity and international competitiveness of the US soybean crop will depend on applications of biotechnologies in genetic improvement.  The development of a physical map of the soybean genome accelerate the rate of economically important gene cloning and discovery ten to one hundred fold and will provide for the future sequencing of the whole soybean genome.   The objectives of our research are to develop a physical map of the soybean genome and to integrate the physical map with the genetic map.  the ultimate goal is to significantly accelerate discovery, cloning, manipulation, and utilization of soybean genes of agronomic importance for genetic improvement and agricultural production.   The research will also provide all soybean researchers with electronic access to bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones encompassing regions likely to contain genes of economic importance.