O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver testes de alelismo, inclusive cruzamentos entre um grupo de genótipos resistentes à ferrugem, do banco de germoplasma de soja da Embrapa, e as duas fontes de resistência com os genes Rpp2 e Rpp4. A ferrugem-asiática-da-soja, causada pelo fungo Phakopsora pachyrhizi, tem gerado perdas significativas na produtividade da cultura e preocupado os agricultores brasileiros. Até recentemente, existiam quatro genes de resistência descritos na literatura, mas somente Rpp2 e Rpp4 continuam efetivos no Brasil. Vinte e seis fontes com resistência a P. pachyrhizi foram cruzadas com PI 230970 e PI 459025 (fontes dos genes Rpp2 e Rpp4, respectivamente), e as plantas da geração F2 foram infectadas com uma suspensão com 2,5x10(4) esporos por mililitro e analisadas em casa de vegetação após 20 dias, para verificação da presença de lesões de resistência (RB) ou de suscetibilidade (TAN). Foram aplicados testes de qui-quadrado para investigar as hipóteses de segregação independente ou de alelos de resistência nos locos Rpp2 e Rpp4. Genes de resistência provenientes de PI 197182, PI 230971 e PI 417125 não segregaram em cruzamentos com a PI 230970, o que indica que esses genótipos apresentam um único gene de resistência presente no loco Rpp2. Cruzamentos com os outros 23 genótipos resultaram em populações segregantes, o que indica que estas possuem genes que não pertencem aos locos Rpp2 e Rpp4.

The objective of this study was to conduct allelic tests including crosses between a group of rust resistant genotypes from Embrapa's soybean germplasm collection and PI 230970 and PI 459025, which carry the Rpp2 and Rpp4 genes, respectively. Asian Soybean rust (ASR) caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi has resulted in significant yield losses and concern among Brazilian farmers. Until recently, there were four resistance genes (Rpp1 through Rpp4) described in the literature, but only Rpp2 and Rpp4 are still effective in Brazil. Twenty-six sources of resistance to P. pachyrhizi were crossed with PI 230970 and PI 459025 (Rpp2 and Rpp4 gene sources, respectively) and plants of their F2 generations were infected with a suspension containing 2.5x10(4) spores per milliliter and assessed in a greenhouse after 20 days, for the presence of resistant (RB) or susceptible (TAN) lesions. Chi-square tests were applied to investigate the hypotheses of independent or allelic resistance gene segregations. ASR resistant genes derived from PI 197182, PI 230971 and PI 417125 did not segregate in crosses with PI 230970, which indicates that these genotypes have a single resistance gene in the Rpp2 locus. Crosses with the other 23 genotypes resulted in segregating populations, suggesting that their resistance genes do not belong to Rpp2 or Rpp4 loci.

Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by the phytopathogenic fungi Phakopsora pachyrhizi, has caused large reductions in soybean (Glycine max) yield in most locations in Brazil where it has occurred since it was first reported in May 2001. Primary efforts to combat the disease involve the development of resistant cultivars, and four dominant major genes (Rpp1, Rpp2, Rpp3 and Rpp4) controlling resistance to ASR have been reported in the literature. To develop new long-lasting soybean ASR resistance genes, we used field experiments to assess ASR leaf lesion type in 11 soybean genotypes (BR01-18437, BRS 184, BRS 231, BRS 232, BRSGO Chapadões, DM 339, Embrapa 48, PI 200487, PI 230970, PI 459025-A and PI 200526) and the 55 F2 generations derived from their biparental diallel crosses. The results indicated that PI 200487 and PI 200526 carry different dominant resistance major genes which are both different from Rpp2 through Rpp4. Furthermore, resistance to ASR in BR01-18437 is controlled by a single recessive major gene, also different from Rpp1 through Rpp4 and different from the genes in PI 200487 and PI 200526.

Soybean is one of the most important crops in Brazil and continuously generates demands for production technologies, such as cultivars resistant to diseases. In recent years, the Asian rust fungus (Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. & P. Syd 1914) has caused severe yield losses and the development of resistant cultivars is the best means of control. Understanding the genetic control and estimating parameters associated with soybean (Glycine max) resistance to P. pachyrhizi will provide essential information for cultivar selection. We investigated quantitative genetic control of P. pachyrhizi and estimated parameters associated to soybean yield in the absence and presence of this phytopathogen. Six cultivars and their 15 diallel derived F2 and F3 generations were assessed in experiments carried out in the absence and presence of P. pachyrhizi. The results indicated that soybean yield in the presence and absence of P. pachyrhizi is controlled by polygenes expressing predominantly additive effects that can be selected to develop new cultivars resistant or tolerant to P. pachyrhizi. These cultivars may prove to be a useful and more durable alternative than cultivars carrying major resistance genes.