Soybean cyst nematodes are among the most damaging nematode pathogens of soybeans. The effector proteins secreted by the nematodes through its stylet into the host are thought to play an important role in plant infection and parasitism. This work continues painstaking characterization of these effectors and their results on soybeans that allow successful SCN infection. Then it focuses on understanding the soybean-SCN system to learn how the industry can bioengineer new types of resistance genes in soybean that disrupt the SCN life cycle and allow soybeans to resist infection. The functional characterization of effector genes will provide more targets to potentially disrupt the nematode parasitic cycle.
Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents, geneticists, soybean breeders, seed companies