New discovery paves the way for more resistant soybeans to combat $1.5 billion crop loss from nematode infection

Soybean growers across the globe face a silent but devastating threat under the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). This microscopic pathogen attacks soybean roots, jeopardizing crop yields and causing more than $1.5 billion in annual losses in the United States alone. Despite decades of effort, effective solutions to protect soybeans from SCN remain elusive, as the pathogen is often detected only in later stages because its early symptoms are subtle. However, new research offers hope for a sustainable solution to this agricultural challenge

A recent study published in the journal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (MPMI), led by the graduate student Alexandra Margets and other researchers from the Roger Innes Laboratory at Indiana University Bloomington, in collaboration with the Baum Lab at Iowa State University, has identified and characterized a key protein behind SCN infection. Their findings could revolutionize how farmers protect their crops from this pervasive threat.

The team of researchers identified an effector protein called CPR1 (″cysteine protease 1″), which SCN secretes into soybean roots during infection. CPR1 disrupts the plant’s immune system, paving the way for the pathogen to establish itself. Using a cutting-edge technique called ″proximity labeling,” the team identified a soybean protein, GmBCAT1 (branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase), as a target of CPR1. Further experiments revealed that CPR1 prevents the accumulation of GmBCAT1, suggesting cleavage. This discovery could enable the team to engineer ″decoy” proteins that trick SCN effectors into cleaving them, thereby triggering a robust plant immune response that prevents further infection.

″This work has broad impacts on our understanding of SCN parasitism and the development of a novel resistance strategy. If shown to be successful, we can develop plants that are resistant to SCN and deliver a new solution for soybean farmers to use in their fields,” said Roger Innes, head of the Innes Lab. ″If this technology works for SCN resistance in soybeans, it will almost certainly work for other crop plants and respective plant diseases.”

These insights could have far-reaching implications for global agriculture. By developing SCN-resistant soybeans, this research aims to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides, lowering agriculture’s environmental impact while increasing crop yields. The complementary expertise of the Innes Lab in decoy protein engineering and the Baum Lab in soybean and nematode biology underscores the potential for transformative advancements in sustainable farming. Both labs hope this research will benefit farmers and promote sustainable agriculture by developing a new generation of SCN-resistant soybeans.

Soybean growers across the globe face a