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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #290489
Title: Research highlights on breeding for soybean disease resistance in the United States

Author
item Li, Shuxian
item CHEN, PENGYIN - University Of Arkansas
item Walker, David

Submitted to: International Congress of Plant Pathology Abstracts and Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/2013
Publication Date: 8/25/2013
Citation: Li, S., Chen, P., Walker, D.R. 2013. Research highlights on breeding for soybean disease resistance in the United States. International Congress of Plant Pathology Abstracts and Proceedings. 43:98-99.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soybean pathogens and pests in the USA annually cause economic losses by reducing seed yield and quality. The Midwest and North Central, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South, and Southeast production regions each have a major pathogen and pest complex that can be best managed by combining genetic resistance with other methods. Breeding to improve disease resistance in soybean involves a variety of approaches and methods, ranging from traditional to molecular technology. Deliberate selection for resistance to pathogens like Phomopsis longicolla, a causal agent of Phomopsis seed decay (PSD), can be carried out phenotypically using controlled assays and fortuitous natural infections, or by using marker-assisted selection. Screening soybean germplasm for resistance to PSD in Southern and Midwest states has recently identified novel sources of resistance. Breeding for durable resistance to soybean rust, an important foliar disease, is particularly challenging due to the highly variable pathogenicity among populations of the pathogen. A strategy has been pursued to pyramid pairs of Rpp genes into adapted genetic backgrounds. Breeding for resistance to soybean virus is accomplished by incorporating single dominant genes or pyramiding several resistance loci in elite lines. Selections are done by artificial inoculation, serological assays, or gene-specific marker screen. A GBS (genotyping by sequencing) approach has been used to identify and map resistance genes for Sclerotinia stem rot. A brief overview of research on breeding soybean for resistance to these and other important diseases will be presented.