Previous studies have revealed that soybean WRKY transcription factors are
involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses and diseases, including
Asian Soybean Rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Researchers, led by
Maria Helena Bodanese-Zanettini of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do
Sul, performed genome-wide annotation of the soybean WRKY family to identify
genes involved in the response to P. pachyrhizi infection.

Seventy-five genes were differentially expressed during fungal infection,
eight of which were suggested to be involved in the response to infection.
The expression of these genes in a resistant genotype was found to be
earlier and/or stronger compared with the response of susceptible genotypes.
Transgenic soybean lines with silenced WRKY genes were generated. The leaves
of transgenic silenced lines showed higher number of lesions than the
wild-types. Embryos overexpressing WRKY genes were also obtained, but were
unable to grow into plants.

These results suggest the possibility of manipulation of WRKYs as an
approach to confer fungal resistance in soybean.

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