Abstract
Soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora spp., is a major global concern for soybean producers. SBR causing fungi are polycyclic and obligate biotrophs, rendering the study of their biology particularly tedious. Over the past four decades, substantial progress has been made towards understanding the epidemiology of the disease, the identification of sources of resistance, and the mapping of soybean loci conferring resistance to P. pachyrhizi (Rpp genes), since this species is particularly well established and widespread in many soybean growing areas. Although host-plant resistance is generally considered as the most desirable solution from an environmental, economic, and social perspective, other disease control approaches such as agronomic practices and chemical application are also important, and influence rust epidemiology as well as the durability of host plant resistance. This review focusses primarily on genetic aspects of SBR management and summarizes the research in the following areas: SBR symptoms, aetiology, pathogenic variation and population structure of Phakopsora populations, expression of soybean resistance to Phakopsora infection, genetics and molecular diagnostics of host resistance to pathogen, and resistance gene deployment approaches. Finally, the role of multidisciplinary strategies is discussed for achieving higher durability of SBR resistance in soybean.
Highlights
Soybean is the most important leguminous oilseed crop worldwide, with seeds containing high amounts of both protein and oil
Even though the outbreak of Soybean rust (SBR) reported in Puerto Rico [19] and subsequently observed in Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica [16] was caused by P. meibomiae [29], the pathogen is still considered as minor, since its footprint did not expand beyond the Central and South America and the Caribbean regions
The pyramided line No6-12-1 was resistant to all the four P. pachyrhizi populations from Mexico, but none of the differentials carrying a single Rpp gene showed resistance to all those P. pachyrhizi populations [45]. These results clearly show the potential of pyramided lines carrying Rpp gene combinations that can circumvent the breakdown of single-gene resistance and offers a broad-spectrum resistance against SBR
Summary
Soybean is the most important leguminous oilseed crop worldwide, with seeds containing high amounts of both protein (about 40%) and oil (about 20%). The yield loss due to soybean rust may vary but it has the potential to cause more than 80% yield loss in susceptible cultivars under favourable conditions [8,9,10]. Chemical control is considered as one of the most effective methods for managing soybean rust worldwide. The overuse of chemicals may pose environmental challenges but frequent pathogen exposure to a fungicide may result in development of resistance [13]. Deployment of resistant cultivars seems to be the most sustainable approach to manage soybean rust from broader perspectives, and could be a most economically viable option in subsistence production systems in developing countries especially in Africa
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