2020
Use of plant growth-promoting microbes and novel chemicals for improved soybean yield and stress tolerance Year 3
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Lead Principal Investigator:
Pradeep Kachroo, University of Kentucky
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

For more information about this project, please contact the Kentucky Soybean Board

Unique Keywords:
#breeding & genetics
Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Final Project Results

Updated November 11, 2020:

View uploaded report PDF file

Trichoderma conferred induced resistance in soybean

The overall goal of this research project is to increase profitability of soybean production by simultaneously enhancing yield as well as tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. We are characterizing strains of the naturally occurring, nonpathogenic soil fungi Trichoderma koningiopsis (T-51) for plant growth promotion and tolerance to stresses. The proposed work is aimed to characterize the efficacy of T51 in protecting soybean plants against microbial diseases and abiotic stresses and to characterize the effect of T51 on soybean plant vigor, yield and protein content. The molecular events resulting in the establishment of induced resistance and yield in soybean plants will also be characterized. Following three aims are being pursued.

Specific Aims
1. Evaluate growth and stress response in soybean treated with T-51
2. Test effect of T-51 on soybean growth promotion, resistance to other pathogens and induction of SAR
3. Test functionality of known signaling components in T-51 conferred induced resistance
Results
- T51 inoculated plants showed improved growth and early flowering (Figure 1).
- T51 treatment of soybean conferred enhanced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses
- T51 treated plants showed increased nodulation
- T51 inoculation confers induced systemic resistance
- T51 inoculation was not able to confer ISR on soybean plants silenced for salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis. This suggests that SA is required for T51-mediated systemic resistance.
- T51 inoculation was associated with a nominal induction in pipecolic acid levels, but not SA or azelaic acid.



The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.