An updated assessment of the soybean-Phytophthora sojae pathosystem

Filamentous disease-causing agents (e.g., fungi and oomycetes) constitute a diverse, widely distributed group of plant pathogens that continually threaten crop production. A prominent example is Phytophthora sojae, a pathogenic oomycete that renders root and stem rot in soybean (Glycine max). The expansion of diverse/complex P. sojae pathotypes limits traditional methods of disease prevention and is exacerbated by climate variability. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular features governing soybean-P. sojae interaction is required to preserve soybean yield. This review summarizes current knowledge surrounding the soybean-P. sojae pathosystem with an emphasis on host-pathogen coevolution. We describe innate immunity, novel and well-defined mechanisms of P. sojae virulence and the molecular basis of host resistance. We then provide rationales for disease management through the deployment of gene regulatory networks and a deeper understanding of the biotic growing environment. Insight herein will help unravel molecular and biological mechanisms of plant-pathogen conflict and has benign implications for sustainable agriculture.