Host‐induced gene silencing for engineering resistance to Fusarium in soybean

Abstract

AbstractSoybean is one of the most economically important crops in the world. Its production is affected by several fungal diseases, such as those caused by Fusarium spp., causing significant losses in yield and seed quality. Management interventions are limited, costly, and associated with environmental problems. Host resistance provides a more convenient and cost‐effective approach. Host‐induced gene silencing (HIGS) has been demonstrated to be an alternative strategy to engineer fungus resistance in plants. We have generated transgenic soybean lines with an intron‐hairpin construction in order to express siRNA corresponding to the CYP51B gene from Fusarium oxysporum. Results showed the presence of siRNA corresponding to the F. oxysporum CYP51B gene in both leaves and roots of the transgenic lines. Plants (T3 generation) were challenged against F. oxysporum and F. graminearum. Disease severity was evaluated and revealed resistance to F. oxysporum with one line, named 3.22, presenting no symptoms. In addition, transgenic lines presented better plant development (height and root growth) when compared to the nontransgenic line. Moreover, transgenic lines revealed better development when inoculated with F. oxysporum.