Project Number: 1245-21220-229-31
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2012
End Date: Aug 31, 2017

Objective:
Ethylene is an essential hormonal signal for soybean leaf and flower abscission and nematode infection of roots. In addition, other hormones, e.g., auxin, and peptide signals, e.g., IDA, modulate the plants response to ethylene. Gene expression and proteins involved in developmental mechanisms associated with abscission and nematode colonization of roots will be identified and characterized. The goal is to better understand shared signaling paths in soybean in order to genetically engineer soybean with higher productivity and improved resistance to nematode infection.

Approach:
Several experimental approaches including RNA sequencing and proteomics will be used to identify genes and proteins linked to abscission and nematode infection. Their functional role in these processes will be determined by over-expression and suppression of selected genes in transgenic plants. Transformation protocols include viral induced gene silencing (VIGS), transformation and regeneration of mature plants, and hairy root transformation of axenic roots maintained on culture media.