Phytophthora root rot of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), caused by Phytophthora sojae M. J. Kauffmann & J. W. Gerdemann, has been isolated throughout the soybean-producing regions of the United States. There are more than 39 identified races of P. sojae pathogenic on soybean, and 13 host resistance alleles have been identified at 7 loci (1). None of these alleles confers resistance to all races of P. sojae. The most commonly used resistance allele, Rps1k, confers resistance to the greatest number of races (2). The objective of this study was to identify races of P. sojae in Illinois soybean fields to determine whether the currently used resistance alleles are effective against the P. sojae races found in Illinois. Soybean breeders must be aware of the existence and distribution of races to incorporate appropriate sources of genetic resistance into cultivars. From 192 soil samples collected throughout Illinois in 1997, 33 isolates were obtained and identified to race by inoculating Rps isolines of soybean cv. Williams. A new race with virulence to the Rps1d and Rps7 alleles, designated as race 54, accounted for 48% of the isolates. Another new race with virulence to Rps1d, Rps3a, Rps3c, Rps4, Rps5, Rps6, and Rps7 alleles, designated race 55, was identified in one sample. One isolate, identified as race 41, was obtained from a diseased plant with the Rps1k allele. Another isolate, identified as race 43, was obtained from a diseased plant with the Rps1c allele. Based on virulence patterns of P. sojae, most of the isolates obtained from Illinois soils were races 1, 3, and 4 or variants of these races, such as race 54, with added virulence to the Rps1d allele.
References: (1) A. F. Schmitthenner. 1999. Compendium of Soybean Diseases. 4th ed. G. L. Hartman, J. B. Sinclair, and J. C. Rupe, eds. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. pp. 39–42. (2) A. F. Schmitthenner, M. Hobe, and R. G. Bhat. Plant Dis. 78:269, 1994
