November 14, 2006

Iowa State, USDA researchers study soy family tree

A group of USDA Agricultural Research Service researchers in Iowa State University's agronomy department have been sequencing the soy genome to discover the similarities and differences with its relatives in the legume family.

The researchers hope comparisons of the DNA in related plants could help them understand how agronomic traits evolved and, in turn, aid plant breeders in creating improved crop varieties.

The information could even speed up the entire breeding process. For instance, breeders could evaluate seedlings rather than waiting for the trait to be visible in mature plants, said a researcher.

About three species of the legume family, including soy have genome sequencing projects.

Steven Cannon and his colleagues, who have been working on these sequencing projects also published a paper comparing the genomes in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Science." One of the main conclusions, according to Cannon, was that the species had much in common.

Although the species had been separated for about 40 million years, long stretches of the chromosomes directly corresponded with one another, pointed out Cannon.

The genome sequence would also help determine what genes were helpful in creating resistance to common diseases such as Phytophthora (stem rot) and Asian rust.