Host Plant Resistance to Foxglove Aphid (Aulacorthum solani) in Soybean

Host Plant Resistance to Foxglove Aphid (Aulacorthum solani) in Soybean

Foxglove aphid (FA), Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach, is a notable economic pest of soybean plants causing deformation of leaves, the transmission of viruses, and significant yield losses. Host plant resistance is considered the most environment-friendly and economic approach to insect-pest management. However, studies on the activities, biology, and management of FA are still limited. This review article will focus on current knowledge on the prospect of utilizing host plant resistance in the management of FA based on molecular and genetic studies. The soybean plant’s resistance against FA is conferred by the presence of the resistance to Aulacorthum solani gene (Raso). Currently, two Raso genes with NB-ARC domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing gene (NBS-LRR) were proposed to confer resistance against FA biotypes in Japan and Korea. The use of soybean Williams 82 sequence assembly in these studies showed the chromosome position of identified QTL/genes where they were fine-mapped. In exploring this existing knowledge, we suggest identifying more resistant soybean cultivars and new Raso genes and then combining the R genes in resistant cultivars to produce plants with active defense responses across different biotypes of FA. Furthermore, we recommend an aphid whole-genome sequence study to understand FA adaptation to soybean and biotype.