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Plant Derived Bio-Fungicide against Soybean Rust Disease

Agricultural Engineering
Crops and Germplasm

Domestic soybean cultivars used in the U.S. are highlysusceptible to soybean rust disease caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The rapid spread of the disease and its abilityto cause significant yield losses (ranging from 13 to 80% of total yield) canresult in major economic losses for soybean producers. Synthetic fungicides areheavily used (~74 million acres in US in 2007) to prevent rust disease buttheir effect on human health and the ecosystem is unknown. In addition, theeffectiveness of synthetic fungicides is limited for both early and late seasoninfections and there is a high probability of future fungicide resistance.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Departments ofPlant Biology, Crop Sciences, and Entomology have developed a new bio-fungicidederived from natural plant compounds. The team has identified the naturalcompound produced by Glycine tomentella,a naturally-resistant soybean variety that is responsible for its resistance tosoybean rust. This compound can be applied to sensitive strains to provideresistance. 

Description/Details

The natural compound isolated from G. tomentella provides resistance against rust disease when appliedto rust-susceptible soybeans. The compound stops the germination and tubeformation of fungal spores.

 

Applications

  • The compound can be used as a biofungicideagainst fungi causing soybean rust disease and possibly other fungal pathogens.
  • Knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway leading toresistance may lead to development of transgenic resistant soybean lines 

Benefits

  • A natural fungicide is likely safer for human healthand ecosystems
  • A natural fungicide can be used by both organic andnon-organic soybean producers
  • Knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway that produces the fungicide can be used to produce transgenic fungus-resistant domesticatedsoybean lines.
  • This compound may provide resistance to other types ofplants suffering from similar fungal diseases
  • The probability of bio-fungicide resistance is lowgiven that rust fungus has been unable to overcome G. tomentella's resistance 

Inventor Name

Damla Bilgin

Inventor Website

The Bilgin Laboratory

Reference #

TF07194
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