2016
Non-transgenic soybeans with broad plant disease resistance and high protein
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Iowa Soybean Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Crop protectionDiseaseField management
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Ling Li, Iowa State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
450-21-07
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Iowa Soybean Association
(n/a)
Institution Funded:
Iowa State University
(n/a)
Brief Project Summary:

Soybean disease, nematode, insect pest and abiotic stress each year can cause major loss to soybean production under varying weather conditions. The high-protein soybean seed is of economic and nutritional value. A new molecular tool can generally increase plant defense to plant pathogen, with higher-protein trait, with normal morphology, development and yield similar to the control plants. A non-transgenic approach has been set up to generate non-regulatory soybean with potentially both high-protein and plant-pathogen-resistance traits. This research aims to understand soybean composition and defense, and application to avoid loss of yield from soybean disease, nematode, insect pest and abiotic stress, via a non-transgenic approach.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents, soybean breeders, seed companies

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Update:
1. Analyses of the composition of the mature soybean seeds overexpressing Target Gene 2 harvested from the field in 2015 indicated they have increased seed protein plus oil content; decreased seed fiber, seed yield per plant is not affected.
2. Developed transgenic soybeans expressing Target Gene 1 or overexpressing Target Gene 2 with increased resistance to soybean pathogens and pests.
a. Both foci number and focus size of viral infection are decreased in transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2; Bacterial growth is decreased in transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2 inoculated with bacterial Pst DC3000.
b. Bacterial growth (bacterial infection: PsgR4) was similarly decreased in transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2.
c. Soybean Cyst Nematode female count numbers were decreased in transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 2.
d. Aphid numbers were decreased on transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2.
e. Preliminary experiment indicated that viral foci size is decreased in transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 2. Will repeat the experiment when more seeds are available.
f. Experiment to test SDS screening in transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2 indicated these transgenic soybeans had decreased scores of foliar SDS symptoms.
g. Seeds have been planted in the field in spring 2016 to bulk more seeds for transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2 for disease experiments, and to confirm their seed composition. The bulked seeds have been harvested, cleaned, and being organized. The seed composition will be analyzed by NIRS soon. Seeds will be prepared for disease experiments, including disease experiments in the field in 2017.
h. RNA-Seq experiment is undergoing for molecular mechanism of the increased disease resistance for for transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2.
3. Non-transgenic approach.
a. Promoter regions have been identified for Target Gene 2 that deletion of these promoter regions can overexpress Target Gene 2, make route for targeted mutagenesis via CRISPER/Cas9 technologies to increase the seed protein content of agronomic species, to reduce crop susceptibility to pathogens and pests.
b. The construct is under construction, four constructs are generated and confirmed, will be submitted to ISU PTF for soybean transformation to generate soybean plants.
4. Developing molecular tools of both Transgenic and Non-transgenic approaches, for soybeans with normal growth and development, increased soybean seed protein, reduced soybean susceptibility to pathogens and pests, and to increase sustainability.
5. Manuscript for disease experiment results is under review for publication.

1. Analyses of the composition of the mature soybean seeds overexpressing Target Gene 2 harvested from the field in 2015 indicated they have increased seed protein plus oil content; decreased seed fiber, seed yield per plant is not affected.
2. Developed transgenic soybeans expressing Target Gene 1 or overexpressing Target Gene 2 with increased resistance to soybean pathogens and pests.
a. Both foci number and focus size of viral infection are decreased in transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2; Bacterial growth is decreased in transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2 inoculated with bacterial Pst DC3000.
b. Bacterial growth (bacterial infection: PsgR4) was similarly decreased in transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2.
c. Soybean Cyst Nematode female count numbers were decreased in transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 2.
d. Aphid numbers were decreased on transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2.
e. Preliminary experiment indicated that viral foci size is decreased in transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 2. Will repeat the experiment when more seeds are available.
f. Experiment to test SDS screening in transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2 indicated these transgenic soybeans had decreased scores of foliar SDS symptoms.
g. Seeds have been planted in the field in spring 2016 to bulk more seeds for transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2 for disease experiments, and to confirm their seed composition. The bulked seeds have been harvested, cleaned, and being organized. The seed composition will be analyzed by NIRS soon. Seeds will be prepared for disease experiments, including disease experiments in the field in 2017.
h. RNA-Seq experiment is undergoing for molecular mechanism of the increased disease resistance for for transgenic soybeans (Williams 82) overexpressing Target Gene 1 or 2.
3. Non-transgenic approach.
a. Promoter regions have been identified for Target Gene 2 that deletion of these promoter regions can overexpress Target Gene 2, make route for targeted mutagenesis via CRISPER/Cas9 technologies to increase the seed protein content of agronomic species, to reduce crop susceptibility to pathogens and pests.
b. The construct is under construction, four constructs are generated and confirmed, will be submitted to ISU PTF for soybean transformation to generate soybean plants.
4. Developing molecular tools of both Transgenic and Non-transgenic approaches, for soybeans with normal growth and development, increased soybean seed protein, reduced soybean susceptibility to pathogens and pests, and to increase sustainability.
5. Manuscript for disease experiment results is under review for publication.

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.