2014
Exploring viruses to control the soybean aphid
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Iowa Soybean Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Biotic stressCrop protectionField management Pest
Parent Project:
Exploring viruses to control the soybean aphid
Lead Principal Investigator:
W Allen Miller, Iowa State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Bryony C. Bonning, Iowa State University
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Iowa Soybean Association
(n/a)
Institution Funded:
Iowa State University
(n/a)
Brief Project Summary:

Aphids cost U.S. agriculture billions of dollars/year in yield losses and costs of pesticide application used in aphid control. In recent years, the soybean aphid has been a serious problem for Iowa soybean producers, costing them millions of dollars in aphid control (pesticide application) and/or yield loss. Genetic resistance is inadequate and other effective management options are limiting.

This continuing project is investigating the use of viruses and/or virus genes to kill or control the soybean aphid. This new approach may lead to new biological control and/or transgenic resistance tools to reduce or eliminate yield loss results from soybean aphid infestations.

Unique Keywords:
#insects and pests, #soybean aphid, #soybean aphid - biocontrol
Information And Results
Final Project Results

Using an unbiased deep sequencing approach, we sequenced and assembled the genomes of six viruses that we found in soybean aphids (Aphis glycines) obtained from Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and China. Our study is the first research survey on virus sequences in the soybean aphid, and the first to identify any viruses in the soybean aphid. The large samples allowed us to be more informed on the viruses the soybean aphids carried, and the deep sequencing allowed us to study multiple viral populations in the most cost- and time-efficient way. The results reveal known and novel viruses, which provide valuable information on viral diversity and evolution.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.