Development of soybean varieties and germplasm incorporating new sources of resistance to the soybean cyst nematode

Objectives:

• To develop varieties and germplasm with novel sources of resistance to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN).

Impacts:

• The availability of SCN resistant cultivars carrying additional sources of resistance will allow Ontario grain farmers to rotate the sources of resistance and thereby have a more efficient control of SCN and reduce crop losses of approximately $5,000,000 (USD) yearly.
• The availability of SCN resistant cultivars carrying additional sources of resistance that can be rotated will prevent the rapid breakdown of resistance and provide resilience to the soybean crop towards changing SCN HG types.
• The development of varieties and additional advanced germplasm lines carrying different sources will allow breeders to cross these lines with material adapted to their respective regions.
• The use of molecular markers and genomic prediction of superior crosses will allow a more rapid and efficient development of resistant cultivars.

Scientific Summary:

SCN is the most damaging pest of soybean worldwide and is a significant pest in Ontario. It is found throughout Ontario and in the past five years has caused losses of $267,000,000 USD (Crop Protection Network). Control of this disease is achieved through the rotation with a non host crop and the rotation of resistant cultivars carrying different sources of resistance. Currently almost all resistant cultivars offered to Ontario producers carry the same source of resistance, PI88788. The effectiveness of this source of resistance is breaking down in the U.S.A. and is no longer effective in several fields in Ontario. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop varieties with other sources of resistance to provide Ontario producers with the best cultivars to control this pest and prevent the breakdown of resistance.

This project will develop varieties and advanced germplasm carrying resistance from nine new sources of resistance confirmed to be resistant to the HG 0 and HG2.5.7 populations of SCN. These HG types are the predominant forms found in Ontario. HG 2.5.7 is on the rise in Ontario and PI88788 is ineffective against these populations. Two of the new resistant sources have already undergone two rounds of crossing with agronomically superior lines. Using marker assisted selection and genomic prediction, resistant varieties will be developed.

External Funding Partners:

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program

Producteurs de grains du Quebec (PGQ)

SeCan