2020
Interrogate soybean resistance to root pathogens
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Ohio Soybean Council
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Crop protectionDiseaseField management
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Feng Qu, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
20-R-08
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Ohio Soybean Council
$40,000
Institution Funded:
The Ohio State University
$40,000
Brief Project Summary:

This project continues the characterization of soybean genes that combat root and seedling pathogens. Pathogens including Phytophthora sojae and Fusarium graminearum cause soybean seeds or young seedlings to rot, severely decreasing output. Some soybean varieties possess R genes or quantitative resistance loci (QRLs) that protect soybean against these pathogens. The objectives include interrogating soybean R genes and QRLs that fight seed and seedling rot pathogens using a new VIGS vector, developing and optimizing a soybean hairy roots approach to investigate these R genes, developing a CRISPR editing approach for heritably disrupting these candidate R genes.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents, soybean breeders, seed companies

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

First quarter (October 1 - December 31, 2019): 1. Generate VIGS constructs using the new AMV vector for 10 of the 16 candidate genes within the Rps8 locus. 2. Generate hairy root-inducing constructs for 5 candidate genes within one of the QRLs conferring tolerance to P. sojae, use these constructs to induce hairy roots. 3. Assemble the construct that expresses Cas9, and use the construct to generate transgenic soybean.

Second quarter (January 1 - March 31, 2020): 1. Test the 10 VIGS constructs generated during the previous quarter; generate AMV-based VIGS constructs for the other 6 candidate genes within the Rps8 locus. 2. Test the hairy roots generated during the previous quarter for P.sojae inoculations. 3. Propagate the Cas9-transgenic soybean embryos into soybean plants.

Third quarter (April 1 - June 30, 2020): Continue working on the investigations initiated during the first six months.

Fourth quarter (July 1 - September 30, 2020): 1. Complete the testing of the 16 AMV-based VIGS constructs targeting genes within the Rps8 locus. 2. Complete the hairy root-based characterization of at least five genes within one of the QRLs. 3. Obtain the Cas9-transgenic soybean plants, initiate the introduction of specific guide RNAs.

Final Project Results

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.