New Soybean Varieties Promise ASR Resistance in South America

Sep 14, 2023

For decades, Asian Soybean Rust (ASR) has plagued South American soybean fields, posing significant threats to their yields.

This deadly disease, primarily caused by the aggressive pathogen Phakopsora pachyrhizi, thrives in the hot and tropical conditions of South America, leading to yield losses ranging from 10 to 80%.

Diana Horvath, 2Blades' president, highlights the grave concern as she states that without a growing break, this pathogen finds an optimal environment for proliferation.

Consequently, in places like Brazil, where double cropping of soybeans was popular, the risk of ASR outbreaks increased manifold.

Farmers have tried various methods to combat this menace, including fungicide application and adjusting crop rotations.

Sergio Brommonschenkel, from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, sheds light on the two primary fungicides used against ASR: single-site and multi-site.

However, resistance has emerged, making these once potent solutions less effective.

But not all hope is lost. With the recent complete sequencing of the ASR pathogen genome, doors have opened for creating transgenic ASR-resistant soybean varieties. 2Blades took the lead, finding ASR resistance in soybean relatives.

Partnering with industry giants like Corteva, they're on a mission to introduce these ASR-resistant soybeans to the market, offering a potential game-changer for South American farmers.

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.