Location: Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research
Project Number: 6070-21220-070-086-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 4, 2026
End Date: May 3, 2030
Objective:
The objective of this research is to identify soybean lines resistant to GRKN, identify the mechanism underpinning resistance, confirm that resistance is robust in the field and provide resistant lines to farmers.
Funds will be used to hire a worker to help in 2026 through 2030 to help advance the research on mitigating the effects of the Guava Root Knot Nematode (GRKN). The GRKN is an emerging pest with the potential to devastate multiple crops in the Southern U.S. It's potential range is unknown but could extend into the midwest. The hire will work in the greenhouse to help identify and grow soybean resistant to the pest. Will work in the lab to isolate DNA and other general lab tasks. The hire will work in the field to maintain increases of resistant soybean and make crosses to improve the agronomic crosses of GRKN resistant lines. This agreement will be funded using lapsed salary from position number 3A4136.
Approach:
Four new sources of resistance to GRKN have been identified in soybean. Mapping the genes associated with resistance in one population has begun and 3 more populations are in development. These experiments require substantial amounts of labor in the lab and greenhouse. Plots will be planted in GRKN invested fields to assess the on-farm resistance. These plots will require cultivation. Progeny derived from GRKN resistant soybean and agronomically superior parents will be evaluated. Generation and evaluation of these progenies require substantial amounts of field labor.