Pioneer Heightens SDS, SCN Protection

Recent research from Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is improving levels of resistance to sudden death syndrome (SDS) and soybean cyst nematode (SCN), providing your grower-customers more effective protection to help maximize yield for their soybean investment.

Research efforts at Pioneer are providing new levels of tolerance to SDS. Through Pioneer characterization ratings, a grower can view levels of resistance to specific diseases for each variety. The Pioneer rating system is based on a one to nine scale, with nine being outstanding.

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SDS is a complex trait, causing yield losses in soybeans of 20 percent or more a year. A single gene alone does not provide high levels of resistance to SDS. Pioneer scientists stack multiple genes for stronger and more effective resistance.

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Molecular markers are being developed to aid the breeding in making these complex genetic stacks.

“Pioneer is putting the right combination together to maximize tolerance to the disease,” says John Soper, director of soybean research at Pioneer. “Pioneer has a new Y Series variety, 93Y11, that has a rating of eight. There are several Y Series and M Series beans that have ratings of seven.”

In recent years, SDS has had a more profound impact in the U.S., moving into high-producing soybean regions.

Soybean cyst nematode, another key yield threat, creates losses of more than $1 billion per year. While SCN cannot be eradicated once it is present in a field, growers can select varieties with higher levels of resistance. “SCN continues to be the most devastating soybean pest in North America,” says Don Schafer, senior marketing manager for soybeans. “We are bringing products to the marketplace for Group 0 through Group VII planting regions, and we continue to look for additional sources of resistance.”

SCN is a difficult pest with several races adding to the complexity of providing resistance for growers.

“The race shift is a huge challenge and one Pioneer is concerned about,” says Schafer. “Pioneer researchers are looking for alternative sources beyond PI88788 and Peking.” Even broader resistance is provided by a source known as PI437654. Pioneer is one of a very few companies to have a high-yielding variety with PI437654-type resistance with 95M60.

(Source: Pioneer Hi-Bred)

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