By Andi Anderson
A valuable new resource is now available for plant breeders working to improve disease resistance in soybeans. Developed by PSM post-doctoral researcher Austin McCoy, this free and publicly accessible data repository provides insight into the effectiveness of soybean resistance genes against the pathogen Phytophthora Sojae.
The repository contains extensive phenotypic data from soybean varieties carrying specific resistance genes and their reactions to P. sojae infections worldwide, covering research from 1977 to 2021.
McCoy created the repository during his research on the declining efficacy of soybean resistance genes against P. sojae. He meticulously compiled data from numerous studies, including older surveys from China and South America, using tools like Google Translate to access non-English data.
This data was then curated and organized with the help of an R package, 'hagis,' which he developed specifically for analyzing this repository.
The repository is a unique resource for researchers and educators, providing valuable insights into disease resistance trends. McCoy emphasized that it can be used in classrooms or labs to help students understand plant genetics and resistance mechanisms.
He hopes that the repository will gain feedback from users, allowing it to evolve into an even more comprehensive resource.
Currently available in raw code and R data format, the repository requires users to download and apply the data directly.
This initiative promises to be a vital tool in the ongoing effort to breed more resilient soybean varieties and could serve as an example for similar data projects in other crops.
Photo Credit: harvest-istock-ds70
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Soybeans, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety