Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Corn, Soybean and Wheat Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #240423

Title: Powdery mildew resistance in soybean PI 243540 is controlled by a single dominant gene

Author
item KANG, SUNG-TAEG - National Institute Of Crop Science - Japan
item Mian, Rouf

Submitted to: Canadian Journal of Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2010
Publication Date: 11/1/2010
Citation: Kang, S., Mian, R.M. 2010. Powdery mildew resistance in soybean PI 243540 is controlled by a single dominant gene. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 90:939-942.

Interpretive Summary: Powdery mildew is a common disease of soybean in many parts of the world, including North Central USA, parts of Canada and under greenhouse conditions. The genetic resistance of soybean to powdery mildew is known to be controlled by a single gene. Identification and characterization of sources of resistance is a prerequisite for development of resistant cultivars. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of powdery mildew resistance in a soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) resistant plant introduction (PI) from Japan, PI 243540. The inheritance of powdery mildew was determined in a segregating population from a cross between powdery mildew susceptible Ohio cultivar ‘Wyandot’ and PI 243540. The parents and the progeny showed a consistent response to powdery mildew for all growth stages of plants. The two parents, the F1, F2, and F2-derived families from the cross were screened in a greenhouse and field following inoculation with M. diffusa. All F1 plants were resistant to the powdery mildew and segregation of 343 F2 plants indicated a tight fit for a 3:1 (P = 0.78) ratio for segregation of a single dominant gene. Also, the inheritance of powdery resistance in 334 F2-derived families in the population did fit an expected 1:2:1 segregation ratio (P =0.88) and confirmed the results obtained in the F2 lines. Our results indicate that the powdery mildew resistance in PI 243540 is controlled by a single dominant gene. The simple inheritance of this gene should make it relatively easy to map linked DNA markers and transfer the gene to susceptible elite cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa Cooke & Peck) is a common disease of soybean in many countries of the world, including northern USA, parts of Canada and under greenhouse conditions. The genetic resistance of soybean to powdery mildew (PDMD) is known to be controlled by a single locus with three alleles designated as Rmd, Rmd-c and rmd. Identification and characterization of sources of resistance is a prerequisite for development of resistant cultivars. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of PDMD resistance in a soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) resistant plant introduction (PI) from Japan, PI 243540. The inheritance of PDMD was determined in a segregating population from a cross between PDMD susceptible Ohio cultivar ‘Wyandot’ and PI 243540. The parents and the progeny showed a consistent response to powdery mildew for all growth stages of plants. The two parents, the F1, F2, and F2-derived families from the cross were screened in a greenhouse and field following inoculation with M. diffusa. All F1 plants were resistant to PDMD and '2 analysis of segregation of 343 F2 plants indicated a tight fit for a 3:1 (P = 0.78) ratio for segregation of a single dominant gene. Also, the inheritance of PDMD resistance in 334 F2-derived families in the population did fit an expected 1:2:1 segregation ratio (P =0.88) and confirmed the results obtained in the F2 lines. Our results indicate that the resistance derived from PI 243540 is controlled by a single dominant gene. The simple inheritance of this gene should make it relatively easy to map linked DNA markers and transfer the gene to susceptible elite cultivars using the backcross breeding approach.