New soybeans resistant to soybean rust, soybean cyst nematode, and more!

Most crops have some sort of insect or disease pressure which growers have to face year after year.  The most common way for a grower to combat yield loss to insects and disease is to use some sort of pesticide.  Breeders, however, try to make crops resistant to insects and disease, reducing the yield loss and cost of inputs.  Breeders will work on crops for years to ensure that not only does it have the traits that they want to put into the crop, but also will have everything that current popular varieties express (i.e., high nutrient content, predictable growth, high yield, etc.) and that they haven't added any undesirable traits.

soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) by Daren Mueller, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org

Researchers have known for years that certain wild relatives of commercial soybean have genes which impart resistance to diseases.  However, they have been unsuccessful at cross-breeding the plants since 1979 and it was thought impossible for them to produce reproductive plants.  But by exposing the hybrid's aborted, immature seeds to a hormone treatment, the seeds matured and the plants were able to be grown and bred.  Many generations of crossing the hybrids with the 'Dwight' soybean cultivar until only the desirable disease resistance traits were retained from the wild parent.  The new lines are resistant to soybean rust, soybean cyst nematode, or phytophthera root rot and some even have higher yield or protein content too.  These new genes will be able to add many new traits to existing breeding programs.


Source Article: Plant breeder boosts soybean diversity, develops soybean rust-resistant plant

Low-allergen soybean developed

Soybeans (Glycine max), used throughout the food supply to feed humans and livestock, is one of eight foods regulated by the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.  There are three key proteins which confer allergenic and anti-nutritional properties in soybeans, and now there is a breed which has low-to-zero levels of those proteins.  After the proteins were identified, the researchers genetically engineered the proteins out of the crop.  However, testing of the soybean line was hampered by the transgenic production and due to soybean use in all aspects of food production, especially infant formula.  

After another 10 years of breeding efforts, a non-transgenic, conventionally bred line called "Triple Null" was developed and is going to be tested on swine specifically bred with strong soy allergies.  If the "Triple Null" line is as promising as they hope, this could be an important step in low-allergen food development.

Soybeans (Glycine max) by Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

Source Article: Low-allergen soybean could have high impact

MIPN Landscape alternative App updated

Do you get questions about which ornamental plant is considered invasive and what alternative plant options are?  If so MIPN has created a great resource for you. We call it the Landscape Alternatives brochure. Within the brochure are known invasive plants sold in the ornamental trade industry with alternative species (native and non-native) provided. 

This resource has actually been available for several years, and is also available as a mobile App for android and apple products. Recently we have updated this Application to include four additional invasive species (English ivy, Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis), porcelainberry, and callery pear) along with 36 recommended alternatives to these species.

To download the App please click on this link here!

The brochure can be purchased from the MIPN website www.mipn.org 

Please share this FREE resource to other individuals to limit the purchase (and spread) of invasive plants throughout the midwestern United States!

Endangered Species Day

Did you know that today is National Endangered Species day?  One of the best known population recovery of an endangered species is the bald eagle.  However there are several other examples of species that have rebounded due to conservation efforts.

Immature American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) by Alfred Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org

While everyone knows the famous American Alligator, did you know that there is also an American Crocodile?  The American Crocodile has a large range across the Americas, but within the U.S., it only occurs in the southern portion of Florida.  The American crocodile was listed as federally endangered in 1975 with the major cause of population decline attributed to habitat destruction, though hunting has also been a factor.  Alteration of the hydrological regimen, causing changes in salinity and water levels, as well as construction/development of the Florida Keys created inhospitable environments for nesting.  By restoring habitat areas and limiting hunting and capturing, the American crocodile population has increased and its status has been downgraded on the IUCN List from Endangered to Threatened.

American Crocodile Resources: National Geographic, National Park Service, University of Florida IFAS

Did you know that Rocky Mountain National Park is celebrating Endangered Species Day?  For more information: Rocky Celebrates Commitment To Wildlife Protection 10th Annual Endangered Species Day Special Program

Increasing natural habitat for sustainable pest management also brings back butterflies

Vineyards in eastern Washington have been working on reducing their pesticide usage.  To encourage the "good" bugs, the insects which will eat the pests at the vineyard, growers incorporated native plant habitats.  Not only did it attract the parasitic wasps and natural predator insects, the habitat-enhanced vineyards increased the abundance and diversity of butterflies.  Loss of habitat over the years has caused a decrease in butterflies and the habitat-enhanced vineyards have three times the species and four times the butterflies as nearby conventional vineyards.

woodland skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides) by Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org

Source Article: Vineyard natural habitats assist with butterfly comeback

Louisiana crayfish eating their way around Africa

It seems that culinary tourism isn't limited to human vacations.  Louisiana crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is a fresh water crayfish and was brought to Africa as an aquaculture crop. Africa has no native freshwater crayfish and without aggressive competition or predators, it has spread though lakes, ponds and rivers through adjacent catchments and it can also travel across land to other waterbodies.  It has caused disruption of ecosystems due to over-consumption of fish eggs, fingerlings and just about any other food source available based on their location.

Louisiana crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) by Chris Taylor, Illinois Histroty Survey, Bugwood.org

Source article: Cajun Crayfish Invading Africa, Eating Native Species

Images: Procambarus clarkii

Bamboo creates habitat and food source for deer mice, hantavirus

Bamboo is popular in landscaping, especially as a living fence and privacy screen.  However, not only is bamboo invasive, they have also been found as a preferred habitat for deer mice. Bamboo has an intermittent flowering pattern, but they tend to produce heavily when they do reproduce.  They can produce seed for up to 18 months, during which, deer mice can have several reproductive cycles.  After the bamboo seeds have been consumed, the mice may seek out food near the human dwelling.  As over 10% of deer mice may carry hantavirus, this can be a risk to humans living near dense bamboo stands.  By reducing the habitat and food source that the bamboo provides, this reduces the risk of mouse-borne disease.

deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) by David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Source article: Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus
To report observations of bamboo, visit EDDMapS