New Options for Soybean Aphid Host Plant Resistance

December 4, 2012
ICM News

By Michael McCarville, Erin Hodgson and Matt O'Neal, Department of Entomology

Host plant resistance for soybean aphid is the newest management tool for yield protection. In 2010, a single gene expression, called Rag1, was commercially released in the north central region. Aphids feeding on Rag1 plants do not live as long or produce as many offspring compared to when they feed on susceptible plants. In small plot evaluations of the Rag1 gene, there is a dramatic decrease in the seasonal accumulation of soybean aphid compared to aphids developing on susceptible varieties.

While soybean aphid populations were very low across much of Iowa in 2012, it is difficult to predict what we'll see in 2013. In the past, low soybean aphid populations in even years (i.e., 2004 and 2006) were followed by high populations in odd years (i.e., 2005 and 2007). There is no guarantee that this trend will continue into next year, but farmers should still consider soybean aphids a potential pest for 2013.

The Department of Entomology at Iowa State University recently updated our Soybean aphid-resistant varieties for Iowa for the 2013 growing season. The publication lists currently available soybean seed with resistance to soybean aphid. The list is intended to assist farmers looking to adopt this new management tactic and possibly reduce their need for a foliar insecticide. The listing includes varieties in late maturity group 0 and maturity groups 1, 2 and 3. 

The list contains 13 varieties from four companies. It is organized by company, with varietal information provided on the relative maturity, herbicide resistance, source of aphid resistance and resistance to other pests. Three items of interest to farmers will be:

  1. One variety with resistance to both the soybean aphid and soybean cyst nematode (SCN): The SCN is a pervasive and serious pest of soybean in Iowa. Farmers with SCN-infested fields are encouraged to select an SCN-resistant variety.
  2. Three varieties carrying two different genes for soybean aphid resistance: Varieties containing two soybean aphid resistance genes provide significantly better aphid control than varieties containing a single resistance gene.
  3. Organic varieties with resistance to the soybean aphid: Organic farmers are limited in the insecticides they can use for effectively managing the soybean aphid. Organic soybean aphid-resistant varieties can provide effective control and yield protection.

The listing also contains Iowa State University's recommendations for considering soybean aphid-resistant varieties. For more information on soybean aphid management, consult Soybean Aphid Management Field Guide 2nd edition. To see Iowa State University's annual evaluation of insecticide efficacy against soybean aphid, visit the soybean aphid website. This publication was funded in part by the Soybean Checkoff and the Iowa Soybean Association.

Michael McCarville is a Department of Entomology graduate student; he can be reached at 515-294-8663 or by e-mail at mikemcc@iastate.edu. Erin Hodgson is an assistant professor of entomology with extension and research responsibilities. She can be contacted by e-mail at ewh@iastate.edu or phone 515-294-2847. Matt O'Neal is an associate professor in the Department of Entomology with teaching and research responsibilities. He can be reached at oneal@iastate.edu or at 515-294-8622.

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on December 4, 2012. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.

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Erin Hodgson Professor

Dr. Erin Hodgson started working in the Department of Entomology, now the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology, at Iowa State University in 2009. She is a professor with extension and research responsibilities in corn and soybeans. She has a general background in integrated...