2015
Modifying Bradyrhizobium japonicum to enhance nodulation soybean disease resistance
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomicsSeed quality
Lead Principal Investigator:
Reuben Peters, Iowa State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Leonor Leandro, Iowa State University
Alison Robertson, Iowa State University
Gregory Tylka, Iowa State University
+2 More
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

This research investigates the novel hypothesis that B. japonicum, the nodulating nitrogen-fixing symbiont for soybean, may suppress plant disease resistance. B. japonicum produces gibberellin (GA), which typically serves as an endogenous plant growth promoting hormone, but also suppresses plant responses to microbial infection. The production of GA might generally inhibit the plant defense response to microbial infection, such that plants nodulated by the usual GA+ producing B. japonicum would have reduced resistance to microbial disease, forming the basis of this project. This work explores if soybean plants nodulated by the knock-out GA strain are more resistant to sudden death syndrome and root rot, and infestation by soybean cyst nematodes, compared to plants nodulated by GA+ B. japonicum. Increased resistance to disease and/or nematode infestation, with no loss of nitrogen-fixation, would offer an obvious advantage.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Evidence supporting our hypothesis that blocking GA production by B. japonicum increases resistance to disease and/or nematode infestation, with no loss of nitrogen-fixation, would offer an obvious agricultural advantage. Given the inclusion of B. japonicum as inoculum in commercial seed coating treatments, and the ability to construct such ga- derivatives of any strain (e.g., any of those used by the various agrichemical/seed companies), such an advantage could be almost immediately translated into agricultural practice for grower benefit.

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.