Project Number: 1920-22000-041-09
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jun 01, 2011
End Date: May 31, 2013

Objective:
(1) Identify genes involved in resistance to soybean rust, (2) use the information from the disease resistance studies to provide markers that will be useful to plant breeders for the development of new germplasm with resistance to soybean rust, (3) and to enable collaboration among the nation's premier soybean research scientists with the ultimate goal of improving soybean.

Approach:
The proposed research will be conducted using high throughput virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assays to identify genes necessary for resistance towards Asian Soybean Rust (ASR). Genes targeted for silencing will be selected based upon gene mapping data of key soybean resistance genes. Using the VIGS vectors these candidate genes will be silenced, or "turned-off", in soybean plants that display resistance towards select isolates of ASR. Silenced plants will then be evaluated for a breakdown of resistance by challenging the plants with the pathogen and scoring for the development of disease.