Soybean diseases like Phytophthora root and stem rot, sudden death syndrome, and white mold cause yield losses of more than $4 billion in the United States annually. Many farmers rely on resistant varieties, but older resistance genes no longer work well because of disease evolution. For example, more than 90% of the Phytophthora sojae strains in Michigan can overcome the once-reliable Rps1k gene.
The objectives in this project include adding new disease resistance genes (Rps11, Rps14, and Rpsan1), that were recently discovered by the research team, into elite soybean varieties through modern breeding methods. The team will use DNA tools to speed up selection and deliver varieties with durable resistance across multiple maturity groups.
New soybean varieties with newly identified resistance genes will provide more stable yields, especially in wet years when disease pressure is high. With these new varieties, there should be fewer crop losses due to soilborne diseases. Farmers will have less reliance on chemicals for disease control, thus lowering input costs.