Gene Discovery Could Guard Against Soybean Cyst Nematodes
January 31, 2024 In terms of crop pests, soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) would rank near the top from a loss perspective. Annually, it is estimated U.S. soybean growers lose $1.5 billion in yields and income from these organisms. But now, there is hope on the horizon that someday soon, gene editing could be used to prevent SCN attacks from occurring.
In January, researchers from two different universities announced they had discovered that the loss of function of the GmSNAP02 gene in resistant soybean varieties like PI 90763 and PI 437654 thwarts SCN’s ability to attack the soybean plant.
“Think of it like a lock-and-key model, where SCN is the key and GmSNAP02 is the lock,” explained Melissa Mitchum, Professor in the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia and a member of the research team that made the discovery, in press release announcing it. “If you get rid of that lock, the nematode can’t access the plant. You make the parasite ineffective.”
“Those three genes are what farmers need today to battle nematodes,” said Andrew Scaboo, Assistant Professor in the Division of Plant Science and Technology at the University of Missouri, who spearheaded the project with Mitchum.
The GmSNAP02 project started with Scaboo and Mitchum and involved four years of interdisciplinary research. It was funded by grower-supplied checkoff dollars by way of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and the United Soybean Board. The National Science Foundation-National Institute of Food and Agriculture provided additional grant funding.
In terms of next steps, Scaboo said CRISPR gene editing could be used to “knock out” the GmSNAP02 gene and create a stacked variety that SCN can’t attack. “CRISPR technology facilitates and speeds along the breeding process for forging this stack,” he said.
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