Brazil participates in an article in Science Advanced on advances in knowledge of soybean rust

The International Asian Soybean Rust Genome Consortium has just made public (not yet peer reviewed) the article referring to the advances made with the sequencing and assembly of three genomes of the fungus that causes Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi). The international research consortium ASR Genome Consortium is made up of 12 research institutions. In Brazil, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Bayer, Syngenta and the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil) participate in this consortium.

Researcher Francismar C. Marcelino-Guimarães, from Embrapa Soja, one of the authors of the article, explains that the availability of the fungus' reference genome is essential for advancing knowledge of biology and the factors involved in the adaptability of this fungus, with the aim of to accelerate the development of new Asian rust control strategies. “Based on the analysis of its genome, we discovered that this fungus has one of the largest genomes among phytopathogens, with a size similar to the soybean genome, its main host, which did not result in an increase in the number of genes. We also verified that the genome is highly rich in repetitive DNA sequences, including transposable elements, some of which are active during their interaction with soybeans, thus constituting important players in the variability and adaptability of this fungus”, highlights Francismar.

Asian soybean rust has been the main disease of soybeans since its identification in the 2000s. The disease can lead to losses of up to 90% if left uncontrolled, while management costs for farmers exceed US$2. billion per harvest, in Brazil alone. “Embrapa has constantly sought public-private partnerships to achieve more agile and precise responses to the challenges of soybean cultivation. The participation of our researchers in initiatives such as this international consortium reveals that investment in research and innovation is the way to guarantee the sustainability of the soy production system in Brazil. Rust is one of our biggest phytosanitary challenges, because the fungus is capable of adapting to control strategies, whether by losing sensitivity to fungicides or by breaking the genetic resistance present in soybean cultivars. Therefore, the results obtained and now shared publicly with the scientific community are an advance in the search for practical solutions to control this disease”, assesses the general head of Embrapa Soja Alexandre Nepomuceno.

“Three years ago we announced the assembly of the soybean rust genome. For Bayer, the results presented at this time show the importance of continuous investment, not just in R&D, but in partnerships that truly foster innovation in agriculture. Collaboration is within our DNA and increasingly makes perfect sense. Asian rust in soybeans is one of the biggest challenges faced by producers, as the disease can compromise up to 90% of soybean crops. With the genome mapped, we can analyze the context of the disease and the history of mutations, enabling us to anticipate new possible variations of the fungus. Using this information, we were also able to improve management and solutions against the fungus, in addition to generating insights for the development of seeds with technologies to protect against Asian rust. It is extremely important to be part of this consortium”, highlights Dirceu Ferreira Junior, Open Innovation leader at Bayer's Agricultural Division for Latin America.

Syngenta sees the discovery of the Phakopsora pachirhyzi genome as fundamental and is proud to have directly contributed to the sequencing of one of the three rust genomes. “We understand that this discovery makes it possible to develop more effective molecules for the chemical control of the pathogen, with a high potential for damage to soybean crops. We will continue working and using the benefits of this unique discovery for agribusiness, in Brazil and around the world”, says Ricardo Desjardins, agronomist, Latam manager of Fungicide Resistance Management, at Syngeta.

About the Consortium

Between 2019 and 2021, the international research consortium ASR Genome Consortium made publicly available the sequencing and assembly of the reference genome of three isolates of P. pachyrhizi, whose data is publicly available to the scientific community in link. The international consortium is made up of 12 public and private institutions, listed below: the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), the German Universities of Hohenheim and RWTH Aachen, the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA-France) and the University of Lorraine (France), in addition to the Joint Genome Institute (JGI, USA), the 2Blades Foundation, Bayer, Keygene, the Sainsbury Laboratory (United Kingdom), Syngenta and the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil).