Monsanto Shares Technology In Nematode Research

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|20 February 2007

“During the past seven years, we have been investigating ways to identify soybean cyst nematode resistant traits in soybeans using genetic markers. By sharing what we know, researchers around the world will be able to more accurately identify resistant soybeans and breed for them,” said Bob Reiter, vice president of Breeding Technology for the company.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), soybean cyst nematode has reduced returns to soybean producers by US $500 million each year and yields by as much as 75%.

Academic researchers and public institutions who request access will be given a royalty-free license for using the rhg1 marker under a patent that was granted to Monsanto in December 2006 (U.S. Patent No. 7,154,021).