Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is an emerging disease and is becoming a major threat to soybean production in the north central United States. Research programs leading to the development of SDS resistant cultivars have been a major focus of the North Central Soybean Research Program.

A better understanding of the mechanisms used by F. virguliforme to infect soybean plants is expected to facilitate the development resistance by genetic manipulation of the soybean through biotechnical means. Thus, understanding of the molecular basis of the SDS disease causing mechanisms used by the pathogen is crucial for the developing SDS resistant soybean cultivars.