2025
Diversifying Genetic Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Illinois Soybean Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsNematode
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Eliana Monteverde Dominguez, University of Illinois
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Illinois Soybean Association
$55,714
Institution Funded:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
$55,714
Brief Project Summary:
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the pathogen estimated to cause the largest economic loss to soybean in the US. One of the most effective strategies to counteract SCN infestation is by plating SCN resistant cultivars. Most of the soybean varieties cultivated in Illinois trace their source resistance to a single gene (rhg1-b) in PI88788, which over time resulted in an increased frequency of nematodes that can overcome this resistance.
Information And Results
Project Summary

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the pathogen estimated to cause the largest economic loss to soybean in the US. One of the most effective strategies to counteract SCN infestation is by plating SCN resistant cultivars. Most of the soybean varieties cultivated in Illinois trace their source resistance to a single gene (rhg1-b) in PI88788, which over time resulted in an increased frequency of nematodes that can overcome this resistance.

Project Objectives

1) Continue testing lines with both three gene combinations, rhg1-a/rhg2/Rhg4 and Rhg1-b/qSCN006/qSCN007 that are already in our pipeline
2) Develop lines with the gene combination rhg1-a/rhg2/Rhg4/GmSNAP02
3) Develop lines with the four-gene combination Rhg1-b/qSCN006/qSCN007/CHR10. Both stacks confer resistance to a wider range of pathogen HG Types

Project Deliverables

Breeding is a long-term effort. According to the proposed methodology, we plan to have F3 plant populations with the rhg1-a + rhg2 + Rhg4 + GmSNAP02 combination in the field in 2025, which will be tested with molecular markers. We plan to harvest from single plants carrying the four gene combination in October 2025. Subject to funding in 2026, we will be testing F4 plant rows in the field. In parallel, we will keep testing lines with the three gene combination rhg1-a + rhg2 + Rhg4, which confers resistance to HG type 2.5.7, in our preliminary and advanced yield tests in 2024 and 2025. We expect to start having varieties with the three-gene combination ready to be released in 2026.
For the second gene combination, we expect to have F1 progenies from the second cross planted in the field in May 2025, and we will send the harvested seed from these to Puerto Rico for population advance and population increase in January 2026. In March 2026 we will receive F3 progenies to plant in the field and single-plant selection though marker assisted selection. In addition, we will keep testing lines with the three gene combination Rhg1-b + qSCN006 + qSCN007, which confers resistance to a wide range of nematode isolates. We also expect to start releasing high yielding lines with the three gene stack in 2026.

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

This project will provide farmers with a highly adapted set of conventional soybean lines to grow in their rotations.

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.