By Blake Jackson
Soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) pose a serious threat to U.S. soybean farmers, causing approximately $2 billion in yield losses annually.
Since the pest was first identified in 1954, scientists have been striving to develop effective resistance strategies.
Now, researchers at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) are making significant progress toward a breakthrough in SCN resistance.
“We are at the point now where we have a gene identified that we believe contains a new resistance to SCN, and, hopefully, this will lead to a new breakthrough,” said Sushil Chhapekar, a post-doctoral fellow in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Division of Plant Science and Technology.
Chhapekar is part of a new generation of scientists continuing Mizzou’s long-standing efforts to safeguard soybean crops.
Under the mentorship of Henry Nguyen, professor of plant science and technology, the research builds on decades of soybean cyst nematode studies at the university.
“The University of Missouri boasts a remarkable legacy in soybean genetics and breeding that dates back to the 1980s,” Nguyen said. “Dr. Sam Anand evaluated more than 9,000 exotic soybean germplasm for SCN resistance. Many of those lines, along with hundreds more developed by Mizzou’s soybean program in the last 15 years, have contributed to the SCN resistance currently available.”
Nguyen and Chhapekar emphasize that nearly 95% of resistant soybean varieties rely on a limited genetic pool, allowing nematodes to adapt and become resistant over time.
“Resistance from the existing mechanism is starting to break down,” Nguyen noted. “So the next several years, that is going to continue, and that makes this crucial to find additional resistance genes and incorporate them into new varieties for the farmers.”
With a $749,985 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant, Nguyen’s team has pinpointed a promising alternative genetic source for SCN resistance.
By employing gene-editing technology, they aim to integrate this new resistance into breeding programs.
“This will expand the genetic diversity of soybean breeding pools,” Nguyen explained. “Eventually, we can stack this new gene with existing resistance genes to create more durable plants, making it much harder for SCN to adapt and overcome.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-gilaxia
Categories: Missouri, Crops, Soybeans