2012
Elucidating the Complex Etiology of Cercospora Leaf Blight of Soybean (Year 1 of 2507)
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Contributor/Checkoff:
United Soybean Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
(none assigned)
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Raymond Schneider, Louisiana State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
2507
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
United Soybean Board
(n/a)
Institution Funded:
Louisiana State University AgCenter
(n/a)
Brief Project Summary:

Unique Keywords:
#cercospora leaf blight, #pathogenicity studies, #research methodology, #soybean breeding - methodology, #soybean diseases
Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Collection of a wide range of Cercospora isolates
Genetic analyses of these isolates and determination of genetic relationships between species and races within species
Develop genetic markers that allow differentiation of Cercospora races
Identify genes that provide soybean resistance to Cercospora pathogenicity

Final Project Results

1. Genetic markers of the pathogen, via DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, were developed. As a result, from the 200 Cercospora kikuchii isolates largely from Louisiana (where the disease is rampant) but also from AR, MS and MO, it was determined that C. kikuchii is not the causal species after all. Rather two related Cercospora species (C. flagellaris and C. sigesbeckiae) were found responsible for leaf symptoms. Further, there appears to be diversity within these populations that may stymie straightforward solutions to genetic resistance.
2. Genetic markers of soybean were not identified.
3. Not an original KPI, but of merit stemming from this project, was that a general yield loss curve was developed that indicated that average yield loss for plants with leaf symptoms and consequent leaf drop (necrosis) is about 15%.

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.