Abstract Asian soybean rust (ASR) is one of the most serious diseases for soybean crops, and it can be responsible for severe yield reduction. Due to the low durability of vertical resistance, studies on horizontal resistance are important for breeding programs. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to ASR horizontal resistance. A genetic linkage map with 26 groups was generated for simple sequence repeat (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from 163 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). We found 13 QTLs related to 12 traits, including eight directly related to plant resistance. Furthermore, two QTLs controlling more than one trait were observed: one was related to agronomical traits, and another was related to a similar region of the Rpp3 locus associated with the number of uredinia and sporulation levels. These results will be useful for breeding programs to generate cultivars resistant to ASR.

Abstract Asian soybean rust (ASR) is one of the most destructive diseases affecting soybeans. The causative agent of ASR, the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, presents characteristics that make it difficult to study in vitro, limiting our knowledge of plant-pathogen dynamics. Therefore, this work used leaf lesion laser microdissection associated with deep sequencing to determine the pathogen transcriptome during compatible and incompatible interactions with soybean. The 36,350 generated unisequences provided an overview of the main genes and biological pathways that were active in the fungus during the infection cycle. We also identified the most expressed transcripts, including sequences similar to other fungal virulence and signaling proteins. Enriched P. pachyrhizi transcripts in the resistant (PI561356) soybean genotype were related to extracellular matrix organization and metabolic signaling pathways and, among infection structures, in amino acid metabolism and intracellular transport. Unisequences were further grouped into gene families along predicted sequences from 15 other fungi and oomycetes, including rust fungi, allowing the identification of conserved multigenic families, as well as being specific to P. pachyrhizi. The results revealed important biological processes observed in P. pachyrhizi, contributing with information related to fungal biology and, consequently, a better understanding of ASR.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril], one of the most important crop species in the world, is very susceptible to abiotic and biotic stress. Soybean plants have developed a variety of molecular mechanisms that help them survive stressful conditions. Hybrid proline-rich proteins (HyPRPs) constitute a family of cell-wall proteins with a variable N-terminal domain and conserved C-terminal domain that is phylogenetically related to non-specific lipid transfer proteins. Members of the HyPRP family are involved in basic cellular processes and their expression and activity are modulated by environmental factors. In this study, microarray analysis and real time RT-qPCR were used to identify putative HyPRP genes in the soybean genome and to assess their expression in different plant tissues. Some of the genes were also analyzed by time-course real time RT-qPCR in response to infection by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of Asian soybean rust disease. Our findings indicate that the time of induction of a defense pathway is crucial in triggering the soybean resistance response to P. pachyrhizi. This is the first study to identify the soybean HyPRP group B family and to analyze disease-responsive GmHyPRP during infection by P. pachyrhizi.

Práticas efetivas são necessárias para o controle da ferrugem. O principal método de controle utilizado é a aplicação de fungicidas, o que aumentará substancialmente o custo de produção e são prejudiciais ao meio ambiente. A prevenção ainda é a melhor maneira de evitar mais perdas significativas na produção de soja. Alternativas, como o plantio de variedades resistentes ao fungo, também são importantes. O uso de variedades resistentes ou tolerantes é o método mais promissor para o controle da ferrugem asiática da soja. Recentemente, cinco genes de resistência a ferrugem da soja foram descritos Rpp1, Rpp2, Rpp3, Rpp4 e Rpp5. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre a interação molecular entre a planta e ferrugem da soja e as rotas desencadeadas na planta pelo reconhecimento do patógeno. Compreender os mecanismos moleculares envolvidos nas respostas de defesa é de primordial importância no planejamento de estratégias para controle do estresse e, consequentemente, para aumentar a adaptação das plantas a condições limitantes.

Effective management practices are essential for controlling rust outbreaks. The main control method used is the application of fungicides, which increases substantially the cost of production and is harmful to the environment. Prevention is still the best way to avoid more significant losses in soybean yields. Alternatives, such as planting resistant varieties to the fungus, are also important. The use of resistant or tolerant varieties is the most promising method for controlling Asian soybean rust. Recently, five dominant genes resistant to soybean rust were described: Rpp1, Rpp2, Rpp3, Rpp4 and Rpp5. However, little is known about the molecular interaction among soybean plant and soybean rust and on the molecular pathway triggered by pathogen recognition. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in defense responses is of primary importance for planning strategies to control stress and, consequently, to increase plant adaptation to limiting conditions.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, por meio de enzimas marcadoras, a indução de resistência à ferrugem-asiática-da-soja em genótipos de soja contrastantes quanto à suscetibilidade a Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Aproteína total e as atividades de cinco enzimas marcadoras da indução de resistência (lipoxigenases, peroxidases, fenilalanina amônia-liase, quitinases e β-1, 3-glucanases) foram avaliadas em extratos de folhas de plantas de soja dos genótipos Embrapa 48 (suscetível) e PI 561356 (resistente), submetidas à inoculação ou não com o patógeno. Foram observadas respostas de defesa discrepantes entre os dois genótipos e entre os tempos de coleta (12, 72 e 168 horas após inoculação). A resposta de indução dessas enzimas assemelha-se à defesa bifásica, para Embrapa 48, e é consistente com o observado para outros patossistemas. No entanto, o genótipo PI 561356 respondeu com diminuição da concentração de proteína total e das atividades enzimáticas, o que indica redução do metabolismo geral das plantas infectadas. Há um importante mecanismo de resistência do genótipo PI 561356, ainda não relatado, embasado em vias que envolvem essas enzimas marcadoras e em mecanismos que utilizam menor concentração de proteínas, como os de via metabólica de resposta em cascata.

The objective of this work was to evaluate induced resistance to Asian soybean rust by means of enzyme activities in soybean genotypes contrasting as to their susceptibility to Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Total protein and the activities of five induced resistance marker enzymes (lipoxygenases, peroxidases, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chitinases and β-1, 3-glucanases) were evaluated in leaf extracts of soybean plants of the genotypes Embrapa 48 (susceptible) and PI 561356 (resistant), inoculated or not with the pathogen. Discrepant defense responses were obtained between the two genotypes and among the leaf harvest times (12, 72, and 168 hours after inoculation). The induction response of these enzymes resembles the biphasic defense in Embrapa 48 and is consistent with that observed in other pathological systems. However, the genotype PI 561356 responded with a decrease in total protein concentration and in enzymatic activities, indicating a general reduction in the metabolism of the infected plants. There is an important mechanism of resistance for the genotype PI 561356, not yet reported, which is grounded on the metabolic ways involving these induced resistance marker enzymes and on the mechanisms that use lower concentrations of total protein, such as the ones with metabolic pathways in response cascade.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi validar, pela técnica de PCR quantitativo em tempo real (RT-qPCR) genes para serem utilizados como referência em estudos de expressão gênica em soja, em ensaios de estresse hídrico. Foram avaliados quatro genes comumente utilizados em soja: Gmβ-actin, GmGAPDH, GmLectin e GmRNAr18S. O RNA total foi extraído de seis amostras: três amostras de raízes em sistema de hidroponia com diferentes intensidades de déficit hídrico (0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 minutos de estresse hídrico), e três amostras de folhas de plantas cultivadas em areia com diferentes umidades do solo (15, 5 e 2,5% de umidade gravimétrica). Os dados brutos do intervalo "cycle threshold" (Ct) foram analisados, e a eficiência de cada iniciador foi calculada para uma analise da Ct entre as diferentes amostras. A aplicação do programa GeNorm foi utilizada para a avaliação dos melhores genes de referência, de acordo com a estabilidade. O GmGAPDH foi o gene menos estável, com o maior valor médio de estabilidade de expressão (M), e os genes mais estáveis, com menor valor de M, foram o Gmβ-actin e GmRNAr18S, tanto nas amostras de raízes como nas de folhas. Estes genes podem ser usados em RT-qPCR como gens de referência para análises de expressão gênica.

The objective of this work was to validate, by quantitative PCR in real time (RT-qPCR), genes to be used as reference in studies of gene expression in soybean in drought-stressed trials. Four genes commonly used in soybean were evaluated: Gmβ-actin, GmGAPDH, GmLectin and GmRNAr18S. Total RNA was extracted from six samples: three from roots in a hydroponic system with different drought intensities (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 minutes of water stress), and three from leaves of plants grown in sand with different soil moistures (15, 5 and 2.5% gravimetric humidity). The raw cycle threshold (Ct) data were analyzed, and the efficiency of each primer was calculated for an overall analysis of the Ct range among the different samples. The GeNorm application was used to evaluate the best reference gene, according to its stability. The GmGAPDH was the least stable gene, with the highest mean values of expression stability (M), and the most stable genes, with the lowest M values, were the Gmβ-actin and GmRNAr18S, when both root and leaves samples were tested. These genes can be used in RT-qPCR as reference gene for expression analysis.

An understanding of the relationship of geographically different soybean gene pools, based on selectively neutral DNA markers would be useful for the selection of divergent parental cultivars for use in breeding. We assessed the relationships of 194 Chinese, 59 Japanese, and 19 Brazilian soybean cultivars (n = 272) using 12 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Quantification Theory III and clustering analyses showed that the Chinese and Japanese cultivars were genetically quite distant to each other but not independent, while Brazilian cultivars were distantly related to the cultivars from the other two countries and formed a cluster that was distant from the other two gene pool clusters. Our results indicated that the Brazilian soybean gene pool is different from the Chinese and Japanese pool. Exchanges of these gene pools might be useful to increase the genetic variability in soybean breeding.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as regiões genômicas responsáveis pela resistência ao Fusarium tucumaniae sp. nov., agente causador da síndrome da morte súbita (SDS) da soja na América do Sul, utilizando-se uma população com background genético diferente daqueles relatados, anteriormente, para o Fusarium virguliforme sp. nov. (F. solani f. sp. glycines), também responsável por SDS em soja. Embora genes de efeito maior e locos de características quantitativas (QTL) para resistência a SDS tenham sido identificados, pouco se conhece sobre essa mesma doença causada por Fusarium tucumanie sp. nov., na América do Sul. Com a finalidade de identificar fatores genéticos relacionados com a resistência a F. tucumaniae e marcadores de DNA associados a esses fatores, foram conduzidas análises de QTL em linhagens puras recombinantes. A localização de quatro locos identificados diferem de QTL anteriormente descritos para resistência à SDS. Uma linha heterozigótica residual (RHL) foi analisada e mostrou-se heterozigótica próxima ao QTL mais efetivo, RSDS1, e homozigótica para outras regiões genômicas. O efeito genético de RSDS1 foi confirmado, usando-se linhas quase-isogênicas derivadas da RHL. Observou-se que a linha homozigótica para o genótipo Misuzudaizu mostrou resistência similar à da linha homozigótica para o genótipo Moshidou Gong 503.

The objective of this work was to identify genomic regions that underlie resistance to Fusarium tucumaniae sp. nov., the causing agent of sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soybean in South America, using a population with a genetic background different from that previously reported for Fusarium virguliforme sp. nov. (F. solani f. sp. glycines), also responsible for SDS in soybean. Although major genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) for SDS resistance have been identified, little is known about the same disease caused by Fusarium tucumaniae sp. nov., in South America. To identify genetic factors related to resistance to F. tucumaniae and DNA markers associated with them, a QTL analysis was performed using recombinant inbred lines. The map locations of the four loci, here identified, differed from those SDS resistance QTL previously described. It was screened a residual heterozygous line (RHL), which was heterozygous around the most effective QTL, RSDS1, and homozygous for the other genomic regions. The genetic effect of RSDS1 was confirmed using near-isogenic lines (NIL) derived from the RHL. The line which was homozygous for the Misuzudaizu genotype showed resistance levels comparable with that of the line homozygous for the Moshidou Gong 503 genotype.

Recentemente, foi descoberta uma raça do nematóide-de-cisto-da-soja (NCS; Heterodera glycines) que apresentou a capacidade de quebrar a resistência da cultivar Hartwig, até então considerada resistente a todas as raças conhecidas do nematóide. Essa população foi coletada no Município de Sorriso, Estado do Mato Grosso, e foi caracterizada como raça 4. Para verificar a diversidade genética entre esta e outras populações pertencentes às raças 4 e 9, foi feita uma caracterização molecular pela técnica de marcadores moleculares RAPD. Foram utilizadas nove populações do NCS, das quais quatro apresentavam a capacidade de parasitar 'Hartwig'. Foi verificado que as populações capazes de parasitar 'Hartwig' foram bastante diferentes das demais. Por meio de análise de agrupamento, com base nas distâncias genéticas encontradas, foram obtidos três grupos: o primeiro, constituído por indivíduos classificados como raça 4, mas que não parasitam 'Hartwig'; o segundo, constituído por quatro populações capazes de parasitar 'Hartwig', e o terceiro, por apenas uma população, classificado como raça 9, e que também não parasita 'Hartwig'. Este estudo confirmou que a população de NCS, encontrada em Sorriso, é geneticamente distinta das demais populações da raça 4 encontradas e constitui uma nova raça, denominada 4+.

Recently, a new race of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines) was discovered, which breaks the resistance of cultivar Hartwig, resistant to all known races of SCN. This population was obtained from soybean plants collected in the Sorriso county, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, and is characterized as race 4. To verify if this isolate was different from others classified as races 4 and 9, their genetic diversity was analyzed by using the RAPD technique. Nine populations of SCN were analyzed, and only four populations were able to parasitize soybean plants cultivar Hartwig. Based on this study, it was verified that the populations that break Hartwig resistance were different from the other populations. Based on cluster analysis, the populations were separated into three groups. Race 4 populations were placed in the first group, while the race 9 population was placed in the second group and those capable of breaking cultivar Hartwig's resistance were placed in group three. This work confirms that the SCN population found in Sorriso is different from other isolates classified as race 4, and was called race 4+.

Aplicaram-se quatro métodos para determinar as distâncias genéticas entre cinco cultivares de soja, que são genitores potenciais para uma população de mapeamento genético. Adicionalmente, o grau de homozigose do par de genótipos mais divergente foi avaliado por meio da técnica de RAPD. Calcularam-se as distâncias genéticas fundadas em dados obtidos pela técnica de RAPD pela distância modificada de Rogers e pelos seguintes complementos aritméticos de similaridade: distância simples; Nei e Li, e Gower. As distâncias genéticas foram similares, apresentando valores de coeficiente de correlação de 0,99 a 1,00. Nos quatro métodos, as linhagens UFV 91-717 e Ichigowase foram as mais divergentes (4,53 to 21,43%). Amostras de DNA de cinco plantas de cada uma dessas linhagens foram amplificadas com 28 primers e apenas cinco (2,10%) entre os 238 produtos amplificados foram polimórficos dentro de cada grupo, demonstrando o alto grau de homozigose dessas linhagens. Esse resultado foi mantido quando amostras de DNA de doze indivíduos de cada grupo foram amplificadas. Esses parâmetros permitiram confirmar a escolha do par de genitores a fim de gerar uma população para mapeamento.

Four methods were applied to determine pairwise genetic distances among five soybean genotypes which are potential genitors for a mapping population. Additionally, individual plants from the most divergent pair of genotypes were evaluated by the RAPD technique to determine their degree of homozygosity. Genetic distances based on RAPD data were calculated by the modified Rogers' distance, and also by the following arithmetical complements of similarity: simple match, Nei and Li, and Gower. These genetic distances were similar, presenting a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.99 to 1.00. In all four methods lines UFV 91-717 and Ichigowase were the most divergent ones (4.53 to 21.43%). DNA samples from five plants from each of the two most divergent genotypes were amplified with 28 different primers. Among the amplified products, only five were polymorphic in each group (2.10%), demonstrating their high intragroup degree of homozygosity. These homozygosity were maintained when DNA samples from 12 plants from each of the two most divergent genotypes were amplified. These parameters were extremely useful for the confirmation of the chosen pair of genitors to generate a mapping population.