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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #425431
Research Project: Identify and Characterize Resistance to Soybean Pathogens and Pests

Location: Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research

Title: Discovery and analysis of a quantitative trait locus associated with resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in Glycine latifolia, a wild perennial relative of soybean

Author
item HAN, JAEYEONG - University Of Illinois
item Karki, Hari
item PANDEY, KRISHNA - University Of Illinois
item BOUDREAUX, JONATHAN - University Of Illinois
item Domier, Leslie
item McCoppin, Nancy
item Hartman, Glen
item SCHROEDER, NATHAN - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Journal of Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2025
Publication Date: 6/10/2025
Citation: Han, J., Karki, H.S., Pandey, K.R., Boudreaux, J.C., Domier, L.L., Mccoppin, N.K., Hartman, G.L., Schroeder, N.E. 2025. Discovery and analysis of a quantitative trait locus associated with resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in Glycine latifolia, a wild perennial relative of soybean. Journal of Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-24-0181-R.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-24-0181-R

Interpretive Summary: Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) has long been a problem for soybean farmers in the Southern United States. Recently, this pest has also been found in some Midwest states, including Southern Illinois. To combat this, we have been using a type of soybean (Glycine max) with resistance genes from chromosome 10. This resistance helps, but it's not perfect. In our latest research, we discovered a new source of resistance in a different soybean species (Glycine latifolia). This resistance is found on chromosome 13 and works as a single, strong gene. This new gene could be very useful for breeding soybeans that are better at resisting root-knot nematode.

Technical Abstract: Perennial Glycine species are potentially valuable genetic resources that can be used to improve disease resistance in soybean by gene transfer techniques. From a previous screening of perennial Glycine species, we found that G. latifolia plant introduction (PI) 559300 showed a high level of resistance to M. incognita. Here, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to M. incognita in G. latifolia by phenotyping recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from resistant (PI 559300) and susceptible (PI 559298) G. latifolia accessions and single nucleotide polymorphism markers generated through genotyping by sequencing. The analysis identified a single locus of 1.66 Mbp associated with M. incognita resistance on G. latifolia chromosome (Chr) 13 that explained 33.3% of the phenotypic variance. This region contains 114 putative genes, including 16 leucine-rich repeat containing genes and 7 defense-related genes. F1 hybrid from crosses between parental lines showed a comparable resistance level to PI 559300, which suggests that the identified locus is dominantly inherited. To validate the identified QTL, we developed high-resolution melting (HRM) markers linked to a SNP within this locus. HRM genotyping successfully distinguished homozygous and heterozygous alleles and predicted RIL phenotypes with approximately 82% accuracy. Interestingly, the QTL is syntenic with a locus on G. max 13 previously found associated with resistance to M. arenaria, M. incognita, M. javanica and other non-nematode pathogens. In summary, this work discovered a locus for M. incognita resistance in G. latifolia Chr 13 that has the potential to improve soybean resistance to M. incognita.