Location: Sunflower Improvement Research
Project Number: 3060-21220-034-015-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2022
End Date: Dec 31, 2024
Objective:
1. To identify structural variations between Sclerotinia stem rot resistant (SSR) and susceptible recombinant inbred lines in the Glyma.16G193900 region of the soybean genome; 2. Identify direct interactions between candidate Sclerotinia sclerotiorum EIX-like effectors and corresponding R (resistance) genes in soybean; and 3. Improve soybean resistance to SSR by silencing, editing, or removing R-gene mediated susceptibility.
Approach:
For Objective 1, we will use a genome-sequencing approach utilizing long-read (Nanopore) and short read (Illumina) technologies to gain high-resolution information on the genomic contents of the resistant and susceptible soybean lines. Specifically, we will use this information to examine the locus containing the candidate R-gene for mediating susceptibility to Sclerotinia. For Objective 2, Sclerotinia effectors responsible for triggering the R-gene mediated susceptibility have already been identified. We will use a transient expression system using Agrobacterium to examine the effects of these Sclerotinia effectors in planta, both individually and in combination with candidate soybean R genes. Any putative effector-R-gene interactions will be validated using a yeast 2-hybrid approach. Lastly, for Objective 3, we will use both gene silencing and gene editing approaches to attempt to disrupt the effector triggered susceptibility and enhanced soybean resistance to Sclerotinia.
