Soybean production in Vietnam has recently been threatened by the widespread dissemination of soybean rust (SBR) caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Application of molecular breeding is considered as a feasible method to improve soybean rust resistance and minimize the adverse effects from overuse fungicides in this country

In South East Asia, rice straw is the principal crop residue fed to livestock; it is estimated that 40% of total rice straw produced goes to animal feed. Rice straw is a high lignin, high silica and low digestibility feedstuff, therefore a method to increase its nutritional quality would benefit animal production