Fusarium virguliforme is a highly destructive pathogen. It causes sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soybean. The estimated average annual soybean yield suppression from this pathogen is valued at $150 million.

Although a major emphasis of soybean breeding programs has been to look for major genes that confer SDS resistance, the outcome has not been as successful as for other diseases such as Phytophthora rot and stem rot, and soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Therefore, it is becoming urgent to create soybean germplasm carrying novel, broad-spectrum SDS resistance developed through biotechnological approaches. To facilitate development of such germplasm, we must have a better understanding...