Revealing the Impact of Macrophomina phaseolina Infection Process in Drought Resistant Soybean Hybrids on Targeted and Untargeted Metabolites Responsible for Oxidative Stress/Redox Signaling and The Natural Endophytic Microbial Communities During Disease,

Charcoal rot disease of soybean, caused by a common soilborne fungus known in its anamorphic state as Macrophomina phaseolina, is a major soybean disease in soybean production areas in Mississippi and worldwide. This disease resulted in the estimated loss of 41,720,716 bushels in the US in 2011. The fungus causes stalk rot or charcoal rot disease in more than 500 plant species worldwide, including agricultural, horticultural, woody shrub and tree species. Charcoal rot disease is an endemic problem in Mississippi where mid to late summer is relatively dry or often under drought conditions. With few management tools to control the fungus, research on biologically based management of plant diseases is needed.