Research Brief: U of M students sequence genome of newly discovered soybean pest

University of Minnesota students conducted crucial genome sequencing for the newly discovered soybean gall midge — a pest that is threatening the soybean crop, one of the most widely cultivated and consumed throughout the world. This small fly has been found in major soybean-producing states in the Midwest, including Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Missouri. 

Pest management has been difficult because scientists have a limited understanding of its biology. Genome sequencing can give stakeholders a deeper understanding of the insect’s biology, as well as provide a suite of tools for detection and identification. The first whole genome of the soybean gall midge was sequenced and published by students taking the course Comparative Animal Genomics taught by Christopher Faulk, an associate professor in the Department of Animal Science. Under Faulk's guidance, students had the unique opportunity to perform analyses and contribute to the writing of the publication. Graduate student Gloria Melotto is the first author of the journal article and led this project from the lab of Amelia Lindsey, an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology, and is co-advised by Robert Koch, an associate professor in the Department of Entomology. Read the full brief.