Advances on Pod and Stem Blight of Soybean (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae and Phomopsis longicolla) in Argentina

Abstract

the Soybean Stem Blight (SSB) and Seed Decay (SD), which affect seed quality worldwide. This study synthesizes recent advances in the taxonomy and epidemiology of the complex, identifying seeds and crop residues as main sources of primary inoculum. An integrated approach was employed, combining morphological characterization with molecular tools (ITS, RAPD and SNP), to resolve taxonomic ambiguities and validate the isolates. This research analyzed also pathogenic variability by GGE Biplot and allowed to detect markers associated with virulence patterns. Finally, the most recent advances regarding the identification of the resistance gene Rpsb1, which exhibits Mendelian inheritance, are discussed. It was demonstrated that stalk resistance (PSB) is genetically independent of the Rpsd genes linked to Seed Decay (SD). These advances provide a solid genetic foundation for plant breeding, enabling the development of cultivars with specific resistance to improving soybean crop health.