Fariba Heydari Soreshjani, Ph.D (she/her/hers)
University of Minnesota
Waseca, MN, USA
Julia X. Zhang, Ph.D
Research Scientist
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
James A. Anderson, Ph.D
Professor
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Donald Wyse, Ph.D
Co-Director
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Cathy Johnson
University of MInnesota
Waseca, Minnesota, United States
Wayne Gottschalk
University of Minnesota
Waseca, Minnesota, United States
Senyu Chen, Ph.D
Professor
University of MInnesota
Waseca, Minnesota, United States
Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), a winter annual cover crop from the Brassicaceae family, holds promise for integration into soybean rotation systems as a cover crop. However, as pennycress is an alternative host for the soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines), a significant soybean pathogen, it is essential to investigate its susceptibility or resistance to the SCN. In this study, 426 pennycress germplasm and breeding lines were assessed for their resistance and susceptibility to the SCN under growth room conditions. Plants were inoculated with eggs of an SCN population (HG Type 0, race 3), and number of females (cysts) developed per plant were recorded. A Female Index (FI) was calculated by comparing number of cysts on pennycress with those on susceptible soybean Williams 82. Substantial variation was observed among lines, with cyst counts ranging from 15 to 129 per plant and FI ranging from 5.9 to 50.3. While no lines demonstrated high resistance, 20 lines exhibited relatively low FI values (< 10), indicating the presence of potentially valuable genetic resources for breeding resistant or moderately resistant cultivars. Such cultivars could reduce SCN reproduction on pennycress and improve its compatibility with soybean cropping systems, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural practices.