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INCREASE IN FREQUENCY OF THE RPG4 GENE IN SOYBEAN CULTIVARS

FARHATULLAH^1*, MARK M STAYTON², ROBIN W. GROOSE², RAZIUDDIN¹, NAQIB ULLAH KHAN¹, M. AKMAL¹ AND MIAN INAYATULLAH¹

Abstract: The objective of this study was to observe the change in frequency of resistance gene (Rpg4) to Pseudomonas syringae pv. Glycinae (Psg) between the ancestors and public soybean cultivars.  A comparison of the alleles at the locus for resistance of soybean (Glycine max, L.) to bacterial blight in a sample of 51 North American public cultivars released through 1990 with the allele in their ancestors indicated that breeders have concentrated the dominant allele in public cultivars from 69 to 84%.  The Rpg4 gene may be involved in resistance to Psg in soybean, however, it has another useful function that somehow contributes to soybean productivity in modern agroecosystems and thus plant breeders have unintentionally increased its frequency in cultivated germplasm.

¹NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan.

² University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA

*Corresponding author e-mail: aliawaisj@hotmail.com