Genetics Key to Fighting Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome

Iowa State University researchers have narrowed the search for genes that help soybeans resist sudden death syndrome. Known as a costly disease, a fix could point the way for crop breeders to develop more resilient soybeans in combating the deadly disease. The researchers proposed the genetic pathway that soybeans use to resist SDS. They mapped one gene encoding a protein that could play the role of sensor on the root cell surface to detect the attack of SDS pathogens and pass a signal to trigger resistance. The Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa State’s Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding provided funds for the research.

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