Assessment of Comparative Virulence and Resistance in Soybean Using Field Isolates of Soybean Rust

A major impediment to breeding for resistance to Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) is the lack of stable sources of resistance, due to high variability in the pathogen. The objectives of this study were to assess comparative virulence of five diverse field isolates from major soybean producing areas in Uganda, and identify lines with resistance to isolates of soybean rust in seedling and adult plants under screen house and field conditions respectively. When inoculated with the five field isolates, all twelve lines evaluated showed diverse and mixed reactions, suggesting each location differed in soybean rust races and/or virulence. Experimental sites growing many diverse soybean lines yearly had the greatest diversity of soybean rust. The effectiveness of specific resistance genes was restricted to certain locations and gene Rpp2 previously resistant was ineffective producing a susceptible tan reaction at the seedling stage. A positive correlation between mean lesion density at the seedling stage and adult plant severity indicated that using field isolates to screen for seedling resistance can be a useful breeding approach to extrapolate resistance in adult plants. Overall, these results emphasise the relevance of using field isolates from the target areas to evaluate lines for soybean rust resistance.