Soybean rust-resistant and tolerant varieties identified through the Pan-African Trial Network

BACKGROUND: The global demand for soybeans is increasing rapidly, with projections indicating an escalation of 70–80 million metric tons over the next decade. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) contributes significantly to this growth, with soybean production increasing by 6.8% per year, outpacing the global average increase of 4.7%. Despite the expansion, soybean productivity in Africa remains less than half of the global average. This yield gap is largely due to diseases and pests, such as soybean rust, which can be particularly severe. Effective management of soybean rust depends on several factors, including resistant cultivars. However, there has been limited information on the rust-resistance levels of African cultivars. To address this gap, the Pan-African Trial network conducted soybean varietal trials across diverse locations. RESULT: Analyzing data from 370 individual trials conducted between 2015–2022, the network identified 81 cultivars with sufficient rust-resistance data. Six cultivars including, Black Hawk, Dundee, Egret, Heron, Ibis, and Peka 06 were found to be resistant, and 12 were classified as tolerant. CONCLUSION: This research is a significant step forward in improving soybean productivity in Africa, and further assessments are being undertaken to address other crop production challenges in the region.