**Author details**

to achieve the same level of success as Bt-based transgenic crops [123]. Though there are various categories of insect genes that could be silenced through RNAi to achieve the desired results, targeting of genes encoding for effector proteins in salivary glands of Hemipteran insects has been promising. At the start of feeding, Hemipteran insects inject the saliva produced by salivary glands into plant tissues. Hemipteran saliva contains various chemical substances such as digestive enzymes that facilitate feeding. Important‐ ly, the saliva also contains the effector proteins that are determinants of virulence for these insects. RNAi knockdown of *coo2*, which is an effector protein of pea aphid secreted into the fava beans leaves during feeding, significantly reduced the survival of this insect [124,125]. In addition to pea aphid, successful RNAi studies in Hemipterans insects like peach aphid (*Myzus persicae*), Brown plant hopper (*Nilaparvata lugens*) have also been reported [126-129]. To develop soybean employing RNAi-based management of Hemi‐ pteran pests, there is a need to generate significant amount of molecular resources for these insects. To date, a whole genome sequence is only known for 1 Hemipteran insect, the pea aphid, *Acyrthosiphon pisum* [130]. Besides RNAi, there are other novel approaches such as the transgenic plant resistance against Hemipteran pests. The management of Hemipteran pests by use of transgenic plants expressing lectins and protease inhibitors

has been recently reviewed [131], thus not discussed in this chapter.

Although there has been some success with HPR for Hemipteran pests, for example the glandular hairs for potato leafhopper, there are many opportunities for expanding this important pest management tool. Research has already resulted in the commerical availability of HPR against the soybean aphid, with many more varieties to come. However, HPR research for the other major Hemipteran pests of soybean continues to lag behind. More molecular and genomic techniques increase the feasibility of finding HPR loci and improve the ability to combine both traditional HPR approaches and newer RNAi methodologies. This includes not only developing resistance to multiple insect pests, but potentially other pathogens that they may interact with to impact soybean [113]. However, these new varieties will need to be studies and balanced in terms of the other aspects of integrated pest management (i.e. chemical and biological control) to both limit non-target impacts and extend durability in the face of insect

We would like to thank the members of the Michel and Mian Laboratories for assistance in Hemipteran soybean pest research, specifically L. Orantes, J. Wenger, C. Wallace, R. Mian, W. Zhang, J. Todd, T. Mendiola, K. Freewalt. Funding for this work was provided by the Ohio Soybean Council, the North Central Soybean Research Project, OARDC, The Ohio State

**5. Conclusions**

36 Soybean - Pest Resistance

adaptation.

**Acknowledgements**

University and USDA-ARS.

Raman Bansal1 , Tae-Hwan Jun1,2, M. A. R. Mian2,3 and Andy P. Michel1

1 Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, USA

2 Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences, Ohio Agricultural Research and Develop‐ ment Center, The Ohio State University, USA

3 USDA-ARS Corn and Soybean Research Unit, Madison Ave., Wooster, OH, USA
