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Researchers stack genes to mitigate SCN resistance

Researchers are having success mitigating soybean cyst nematode (SCN) by stacking new resistance genes.

University of Missouri plant pathologist Melissa Mitchum says SCN has overcome the main source of genetic resistance used in 95 percent of commercial soybean varieties—PI 88788.

“We’ve focused on one type of resistance and it’s held up quite well. What we need to do is just diversify that and get more varieties out on the market that farmers can choose from, and choose different types of resistance to plant in their field. And then rotate it.”

Mitchum and other researchers with the SCN Coalition are looking to expand the use of the Peking (pee KING) source of resistance which is currently used on very few soybean acres.

She tells Brownfield their work also includes the study of nematode-secreted proteins.

“So when the nematode is actually infecting the plant root, it’s secreting a cocktail of proteins that modify root cells and form a very specialized feeding structure to support nematode growth and development. So we’re trying to understand what those proteins are (and) how they trigger that response, and then interfere with them in some way to make a plant more resistant to the nematode.”

Mitchum is testing new gene combinations in greenhouse trials and says a four-gene stack rotated with the Peking variety slowed the reproduction of resistant SCN.

The next step will be moving the soybean checkoff-funded study to field trials in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.

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