Book Description
Soybean resistance to the necrotrophic pathogen [Sclerotinia sclerotiorum] is incomplete, and yield losses from Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) can surmount to over 300 kg/ha for every 10% increase in SSR severity. Through this work, I aimed to enhance resistance to SSR through novel breeding methods and RNAi. Germplasm identified through our selections in the greenhouse and disease nurseries have served as valuable sources of high physiological resistance to SSR and resulted in a food grade soybean. Subsequent crosses integrating this germplasm aimed to enhance the agronomics of resistant parents and have been expediated through winter selections in the greenhouse and Chile. Additionally, the pathogenic success of [S. sclerotiorum] requires the secretion key virulence factors such as oxalic acid (OA). Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) using Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) was used to target OA biogenesis in [S. sclerotiorum]. A sequence of 366 bp, corresponding to the fungal [oxaloacetate acetylhydrolase] ([Ssoah1]), was cloned into a BPMV vector and biolistically introduced into [Glycine max]. Plants containing BPMV vectors targeting [Ssoah1] substantially enhanced resistance to [S. sclerotiorum] and lowered expression of [Ssoah1] compared to empty-vector control plants in three replicated experiments (P