Characterization of components of partial resistance, Rps2, and root resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean

Phytophthora root and stem rot of soybeans caused by Phytophthora sojae is a serious limitation to soybean production in the United States. Partial resistance to P. sojae in soybeans is effective against all the races of the pathogen and is a form of incomplete resistance in which the level of colonization of the root is reduced following inoculation. Other forms of incomplete resistance include the single dominant gene Rps2 and Ripley's root resistance, which are both race-specific. To differentiate partial resistance from the other types of incomplete resistance, the components lesion length, numbers of oospores, and infection frequency were measured in eight soybean genotypes inoculated with two P. sojae isolates. The Rps2 and root-resistant genotypes had significantly lower oospore production and infection frequency compared with the partially resistant genotype Conrad, while the root-resistant genotype also had significantly smaller lesion lengths. However, the high levels of partial resistance in Jack were indistinguishable from Rps2 in L76-1988, based on the evaluation of these components. Root resistance in Ripley and Rps2 in L76-1988 had similar responses for all components measured in this study. Partial resistance expressed in Conrad, Williams, Jack, and General was comprised of various components that interact for defense against P. sojae in the roots, and different levels of each component were found in each of the genotypes. However, forms of incomplete resistance expressed via single genes in Ripley and Rps2 in L76-1988, could not be distinguished from high levels of partial resistance based on lesion length, oospore production, and infection frequency.