The NSRL Bulletin is published three times a year by the National Soybean Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, 170 National Soybean Research Center, 1101 West Peabody Drive, Urbana, IL 61801; telephone (217)244-1706, FAX (217)244-1707. James B. Sinclair, interim director; Robert J. Wynstra, editor; Lynn Hawkinson Smith and Lorinda Dzielak, graphic designers.
Unless otherwise stated, articles may be reproduced or quoted if credit is given to the NSRL Bulletin. The views expressed in signed articles are those of the authors.
The National Soybean Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois is an affirmative action and equal opportunity institution.
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College of Agriculture
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
National Soybean Research Laboratory
170 National Soybean Research Center
1101 West Peabody Drive
Urbana, IL 61801-4723
According to the National Institute of Medicine, 18 of 52 infectious diseases of humans are borne by insects. Of those, 16 are transmitted by mosquitoes. For example, Illinois historically has experienced several outbreaks of St. Louis encephalitis, which is a particularly virulent disease spread by mosquitoes.
"The threat is there and increasing as the globe shrinks," says Robert Novak, a medical entomologist at the University of Illinois and the Illinois Natural History Survey. "We now move things and people so rapidly around the world that there are virtually no quarantine periods."
Petroleum-based insecticidal oil products, such as number- two diesel oil, have been the mainstay for control of mosquito larvae in a variety of wetland habitats. These products coat the surface of the water and suffocate larvae.
"They work, but we are becoming increasingly concerned about what petroleum-based products do to plant and aquatic life," Novak says.
One of Novak's most recent research projects may provide an alternative to petroleum-based products and a major new market for soybean producers. With support from the Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board, he is working with University of Illinois researchers David Seigler, a natural product chemist, and Robert Metcalf, an entomologist-toxicologist, to explore the potential for using soybean products for mosquito control.
"We're looking at an exciting potential new use for soybeans," Novak says. "Our research is aimed at more than just using soy oil to suffocate mosquitoes. We're also looking at using secondary compounds found in soybeans that can kill insects, primarily mosquitoes."
Novak points out that the potential market for soy-based insecticides is enormous. Mosquito control in the upper Midwest alone costs than $20 million a year. Millions of dollars more are spent each year across the United States. In tropical countries where malaria is widespread, the potential markets are even larger.
And, more importantly, the research has potential applications beyond mosquito control. If successful, soy-oil products could be used to control whitefly in greenhouses, borers in orchards, and other pests that today are managed with petroleum-based insecticide products.
These new uses are especially important because of increasing restrictions on the use of chemicals to control mosquitoes and other insect pests. Even the number of available petroleum-based products has been declining in recent years. Today all but one of these products has been taken off the market.
"We're quickly losing our arsenal for controlling insects," he says. "This is happening in just the same way that agriculture is losing its chemical arsenal to control insects and weeds."
Soy oil appears especially promising because it is biodegradable. Furthermore, Novak and his colleagues are looking for a formulation that will break down in 12 to 24 hours. As part of their research, they will study in detail how soy oil breaks down in the environment and what effect, if any, it has on plant and aquatic life.
"We'd like to develop something that's biodegradable and could be commercially available to farmers, public health districts, pest control operators, mosquito abatement districts, and the public," Novak says.
Novak points out that mosquitos are especially vulnerable during the larval stage. Attacking them at the stage when they are most concentrated represents the most sensible approach for controlling their spread.
"They're centralized in the larval stage," he says. "Once they're on the wing, it's like trying to control smoke over a city by gathering it up with helicopters."
He further notes that mosquitos are not truly aquatic, because the larvae must still breathe above the water surface. This makes them an ideal target for suffocation by soy oil.
"With the soy oil, what we want to do is put a thin layer right on the surface of the water, so that, when the mosquitoes come up to breathe, the door, more or less, is slammed in their face," Novak says.
He also is looking at the potential for soy oil to carry pathogens that could kill mosquitoes not suffocated by the oil. A soy-oil product might also carry other biological control agents that are toxic to mosquitoes.
"There are many interesting things about this oil and a plethora of things we could look at," he says. "For instance, if secondary compounds that have insecticidal properties could be added to the oil, it could allow a holistic approach to pest management."
Novak and his research team are reviewing research literature and screening formulations of soy oil to find a product that spreads as desired and degrades quickly. They also plan to look at the effect of different doses and formulations on the varieties of mosquitoes that carry malaria and other human and animal diseases. In addition, they will assess toxicity to plants and aquatic life.
"We'll do a lot of laboratory work before we more into controlled field experiments," he says. "One of our goals is to gain information that will be necessary for registration of the product by the Environmental Protection Agency."
In a major step toward greater efficiency, the United Soybean Board (USB) has dramatically modified its committee structure. Under the new structure, each committee will have responsibility for some research and will strive to increase long-range utilization and production of soybeans.
"We're really changing at USB in an effort to maximize checkoff dollar efficiencies," says John Becherer, new chief executive officer of USB.
USB was established in the 1990 Farm Bill as a 60-member, farmer-run organization to administer soybean checkoff funds. It works to maximize efficiency in the production of soybeans and to increase utilization of soybeans worldwide. USB invested $6.6 million in research projects across the nation during FY95.
Becherer recently shared his perspectives on the changes at USB as part of the spring seminar series at the National Soybean Research Laboratory. His presentation covered a wide range of USB activities designed to create an environment within which U.S. soybean producers can maximize profits.
Becherer took over the position of chief executive officer in October 1994. Prior to his appointment, he served as senior director of development and programs at the Conservation Technology Information Center in West Lafayette, Indiana.
"I would describe myself as a consensus builder," he says. "My position at USB provides an ideal forum for continuing my career-long activities to help producers farm more profitably."
Under the reorganization, USB has established four committees. The New Uses Committee has set a target for new projects that will increase utilization of U.S. soybeans by 300 million bushels over the next ten years.
This goal will be accomplished by fostering and providing incentives for development of new utilization projects. The committee will first identify promising new uses and products and then set timetables for development. Each step in this process will include measurable milestones that provide criteria for evaluation, marketing, and commercialization.
"If we don't have some failures in this area, we're not being as aggressive as we should be in seeking and funding potential new uses for soybeans," Becherer says.
The Domestic Marketing Committee has targeted a goal of increasing domestic utilization of U.S. soybeans by 150 million bushels by 2005. One aim is to increase the utilization and market share of edible soybean products. Another effort will focus on increasing utilization of industrial soy products and value-added production. The committee also will strive to support commercialization of products developed through projects supported by the New Uses Committee.
The International Marketing Committee was established as a replacement for the former Promotions Committee and will have a goal of expanding the U.S. share of the world export market from 42 percent to 60 percent in the next ten years. This will be accomplished by gaining market share in expanding new markets, by increasing market share in current markets, and by capitalizing on the unique competitive advantage of the U.S. soybean industry.
The Production Committee has set a goal of producing soybeans more efficiently to meet the anticipated three billion bushel demand by 2005. It will work to improve the transfer of technology from research to the producer and to support basic and applied research that provides maximum return on investment. A top priority is to reach this goal in a way that is efficient and environmentally friendly.
"If we're going to expand utilization of soybeans and don't expand production to match, we're simply putting ourselves in the position where we're promoting soybeans from Argentina and Brazil," he says. "At the same time, the reality of the future is that we're not going to be producing soybeans or any other crop unless we do it in an environmentally friendly way."
The USB will continue to have outside advisors assigned to the restructured committees. Three or four advisors will contribute their expertise to each committee.
"The board as a whole feels very comfortable with the new structure," Becherer says. "We are a marketing and production efficiency organization, and we need outside advisors with marketing backgrounds."
Another important strategic goal for USB is improved coordination with the Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs). Under the current system, these soybean boards retain 50 percent of the checkoff funds for research and promotion activities at the state level.
"Soybean research is a joint USB and QSSB effort," he says. "We need to do research in ways that get us the most bang for our buck and that includes improved communications so that we make sure we are not duplicating research."
In another major step, USB has designated the American Soybean Association (ASA) as its prime contractor in all areas except producer communications.
"I think it will help that ASA is now the board's primary contractor," he says. "My goal is to bring everyone together in a more active role."
As result of these changes, USB is moving ahead with a number of "very aggressive and dynamic" goals in the areas of production and utilization. A key to attaining these goals is increased research efficiencies.
"We need some real breakthroughs in the next ten years," Becherer says. "By working more closely together and increasing efficiencies in research, we can accomplish these goals."
With support from the United Soybean Board, the University of Illinois and Texas A&M University have launched an electronic communications and information system known as StratSoy that should increase the coordination, efficiency, and profitability of the U.S. soybean industry.
StratSoy operates as a state-of-the-art information system on the World Wide Web using a number of Internet tools, such as e-mail, Mosaic, Gopher, FTP, and Telnet. The system allows graphical interface with the Web and supports audio and video transmissions.
StratSoy offers instant access to information and provides a communications system that can help producers and soybean industry leaders expand their knowledge and stay abreast of important developments. In today's competitive world, such access to information is a key to strategic decision-making that enhances profitability.
The system contains information on soybean research projects, weather forecasts, commodity price information, and trade and export information. StratSoy users also can access other electronic databases and libraries, USDA program updates, and state and national Extension Service resources.
The system is funded in part by the United Soybean Board, which has allocated checkoff dollars to carry out Phase I of the project over the next two years. A central component is a research and communications system that will be used by staff of state and national soybean organizations. The StratSoy team will work with these organizations to ensure that each office can use and provide information to StratSoy.
"We think StratSoy should help the soybean industry fit research into its proper scope," says John Becherer, chief executive officer of the United Soybean Board. "It should help coordinate research efforts and break down regional barriers."
The system is coordinated by a team of industry and electronic communications specialists at the University of Illinois and Texas A&M University. The Illinois Cooperative Extension Service Office of Computer Coordination provides technical support. StratSoy eventually will include additional offerings, such as calendars, bulletin boards, product updates, production information, and access to market news services and soybean-related databases.
The system already has attracted the attention of not only soybean associations, but also farmers, university researchers, private industry, and government officials. User input will be solicited as the system evolves to ensure that it meets the needs of diverse groups expected to benefit from StratSoy.
The system is on the World Wide Web at URL: http://stratsoy.ag.uiuc.edu/stratsoy.html. For more information about StratSoy, contact Sarahelen (Sally) Thompson, project leader, (217)333-0240, Internet: sally@aes.ag.uiuc.edu; or Tina Prow, communications officer, (217)244-2880, Internet: t- prow@uiuc.edu.
Enclosed with this issue of the Bulletin is a new NSRL brochure. It gives a brief description of current NSRL facilities and programs in the Environmental and Agricultural Sciences Building. The back of the brochure provides a detailed map showing our exact location on the University of Illinois campus. We hope you will visit the NSRL the next time you are in the Champaign-Urbana area.
Also in this issue of the Bulletin you will find articles describing recent presentations by John Becherer of the United Soybean Board and Dr. Peter Gresshoff of the University of Tennessee at our on-going NSRL Seminar Series. Dr. Gresshoff also led a discussion and workshop during his visit to the NSRL.
The NSRL Seminar Series is launched each fall with the George A. Fluegel Memorial Lecture. Martin L. Andreas of Archer Daniels Midland Company was featured as the 1994 Fluegel lecturer. The Fluegel Memorial Lecture is funded by an endowment from the family and friends of the late George A. Fluegel, Illinois farm leader and former president of the American Soybean Association.
The NSRL seminars are scheduled to fit the availability of the invited speakers. The Fluegel Lecture is scheduled at the time of the fall meeting of the NSRL External Advisory Committee. The seminar committee invites any of our readers to submit nominations for speakers. Please send your suggestions to the the office of the interim director.
The NSRL also has completed production of a 14-minute videotape titled "A Shared Vision for the 21st Century." The tape briefly describes the history and mission of the NSRL. It recently was distributed to each of the state checkoff boards. Additional copies are available on request.
In a final note, the College of Agriculture has recently purchased simultaneous interpretation equipment suitable for small groups of international visitors. The system includes a stationary unit and twelve receiving units that allow for two-way translation. A portable system with 15 receiving units suitable for one-way translation is available for field trips. Use of this system can be arranged for events at the NSRL with approval from the College.
Much recent biotechnology research has focused on the development of molecular maps of the soybean genome that would facilitate gene cloning and aid in selection using genetic markers and in plant breeding. This effort is similar in many ways to the widely publicized human genome project.
Mapping is extremely complex because the soybean genome contains one billion basepairs spread over 20 chromosomes. Estimates place the total number of genes in the soybean at nearly 25,000. Much of the genome, however, is made up of non- coding DNA, which replicates itself but does not produce specific traits of practical interest.
Today there are numerous methods of soybean genome analysis. Most of them readily interact and are used depending on the specific situation. Originally, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms or RFLP markers similar to those commonly used in human DNA testing were employed to generate simple maps.
This method lately has been supplemented by more complex techniques such as microsatellites and single primer DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF or RAPD) markers. As a result of these efforts, several useful molecular maps already are available.
The science of cytogenetics meanwhile has brought this biological study of the structure, functions, and life history of chromosomes together with the principles of genetics. This approach already is aiding in establishment of the first interrelationships between chromosomes and the linkages of two or more different traits in the soybean.
Peter M. Gresshoff, who holds the endowed Racheff Chair of Plant Molecular Genetics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, recently explained the importance of these new developments and shared his expertise in DNA diagnostics of the soybean as part of the spring seminar series at the National Soybean Research Laboratory.
Gresshoff received his Ph.D. in 1973 and his Doctorate of Science in 1989 from the Australian National University (ANU). He joined the faculty of ANU in 1979, where he established an internationally known research group investigating the genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
He assumed his present position at the University of Tennessee in 1988, where his research has focused on the macro- and micromolecular changes involved in nodulation. His recent research has turned to plant genome analysis and DNA fingerprinting.
According to Gresshoff, genome analysis has been greatly advanced through the use of physical mapping. Large soybean DNA segments have been cloned into yeast artificial chromosomes (YAC). The largest artificial yeast chromosome to date contains 960,000 basepairs. The average size is about 200,000 basepairs.
Using this technique, about 15 million basepairs of soybean DNA can be cloned per person per week. He points out that the YAC method has allowed development of a collection or library arrayed and characterized in part by different types of DNA sequences.
Gresshoff adds that it is possible to develop similar soybean genetic libraries using large bacteria rather than yeasts. It is hoped that libraries developed through this bacterial technique will overcome some of the technical problems associated with clones produced by the YAC method. Extensive genomic libraries of the soybean already are available from Gresshoff's laboratory.
Recently he has begun using the advanced technique known as DAF to distinguish soybean breeding lines. This method has proven highly reliable and 10 times more efficient than the earlier RFLP technique for generating genome maps.
YAC clones already have been successfully used to detect the location of chromosomes. Such experiments will continue to play a major role in enhancing soybean genetic research through collaboration with Professor Theodore Hymowitz of the University of Illinois, who is using primary trisomics to work on soybean lines with a single extra chromosome in addition to the normal diploid number of 40 chromosomes.
Richard Lampman (left), postdoctoral research associate, and Robert Novak (right), medical entomologist at the University of Illinois, test the effectiveness of soybean oil as an alternative to petroleum-based insecticides. Research on this biodegradable product is funded by checkoff dollars and may provide a major new market for soybean producers.
Darrel Good (left) and Sarahelen Thompson (middle), Department of Agricultural Economics, and Floyd Davenport (right), computer manager with the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, confer as a team on development of the new StratSoy information system. This electronic system is funded by the United Soybean Board and is designed to increase the coordination, efficiency, and profitability of the U.S. Soybean industry.
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