Use of reciprocal grafting to study brown stem rot resistance in soybean

ABSTRACT Resistance to brown stem rot of soybean has been identified and utilized in cultivar development and germ plasm enhancement. However, little is known about the nature of resistance to this disease. In an attempt to better understand the resistance mechanism by locating the tissue or tissues responsible for resistance, reciprocal grafts were made between brown stem rot-resistant and -susceptible genotypes including near-isogenic lines for resistance gene Rbs2. Results of brown stem rot evaluation of grafted plants indicate that brown stem rot resistance is conditioned by the root in all resistance sources evaluated.