2014
Engineered resistance to soybean cyst nematode via induced gene silencing (RNAi)
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Central Soybean Research Program
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
NematodePest
Parent Project:
Engineered resistance to soybean cyst nematode via induced gene silencing (RNAi)
Lead Principal Investigator:
Harold Trick, Kansas State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Jiarui Li, Kansas State University
Tim C. Todd, Kansas State University
John Finer, The Ohio State University
Wayne Parrott, University of Georgia
Lila Vodkin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jack Widholm, University of Illinois-Carbondale
+5 More
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Central Soybean Research Program
(n/a)
Institution Funded:
Kansas State University
(n/a)
Brief Project Summary:

The primary goal of this research project is to establish a new set of biotech traits that have durable resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Turning off genes by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi) has tremendous potential as a new strategy to increase nematode resistance. This project will investigate the opportunities to insert target gene sequences in the SCN that will provide durable genetic materials that will be lethal to SCN populations.

Unique Keywords:
#nematodes, #soybean biotechnology, #soybean cyst nematode - genetic resistance, #virus induced gene silencing (vigs)
Information And Results
Final Project Results

Six different nematode genes were previously identified as potential targets for gene silencing and vectors were made for soybean transformation. These genes were selected as they have the potential, if silenced in the nematode, to prevent normal egg/embryo development and/or reduce the fitness of the nematodes feeding on the transgenic soybean expressing the silencing vectors. The overall effect of expressing these silencing vectors in soybean should be enhanced resistance to SCN.

The production of transgenic lines continued this year with a number of transgenic events being recovered from five of the target genes. The sixth gene (J20) has not yielded any positive clones to date. This may be due to “off target” effects on endogenous soybean genes. To minimize this potential, Ta-si versions (an alternate gene silencing approach) of J20 and two other genes were made.

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.