By David Kee
The three amigos – Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), Brown Stem Rot (BSR) and White Mold (WM) – have all popped up across the state. The three are often confused by farmers as they share foliar symptom, all three are more problematic as soybean cyst nematode levels increase, all three are soil/plant residue borne, cool wet conditions at infection favor the pathogen, and, like my relatives headed to the ice cream churn, by the time you see foliar symptoms of any of the three, the damage is pretty much done. There is little you can do about them for this year’s crop; however, it is a fine time to map them out and get ready for the future.
Cadophora gregata (the causal agent for BSR) infects soybean plant roots during the early vegetative stage, and causes interveinal browning of the leaf, followed by necrosis. Final diagnosis happens after you split the bottom stem lengthwise, and the tell-tale browning of the pith and vascular tissue is found. Using both SCN and BSR resistant soybean varieties has proven to be the most successful management technique. Proper tillage (destroy the soybean residue) and rotating to a nonhost crop will reduce pathogen levels.
Fusarium virguliforme, the causal agent for SDS, infects the soybean plants roots during the early vegetative stage, and produces a toxin which causes interveinal browning of the leaf, followed by necrosis. Final diagnosis will happen after one split the bottom stem length, and the pith is a milky white, with a milky-brown discolored cortex. Frequently roots will be rotted. There are no true SDS resistant soybean varieties; however, some varieties have been proven to be partially resistant. Like BSR, SCN resistant varieties should be used. Most commercially available seed treatments, and all foliar applied fungicides, are not effective in controlling SDS. Recent checkoff funded research confirms some seed treatments (ILeVO®, Saltro®) are effective, other products are being tested. Be sure to confirm your selected seed treatment possesses known efficacy. Rotation to a nonhost crop will reduce pathogen levels, however, many crops, specifically corn and many edible crops, are hosts for this pathogen. Long term rotation (4+ years) to a small grain and/or alfalfa crop has proven most successful in reducing pathogen levels.
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent for white mold, spores infect the soybean flowers starting at R1 growth stages. Foliar symptoms are formation of gray-green tissue between the major green veins. Infected leaves eventually die and turn brown but stay attached to the stem. The presence of black sclerotia and white mycelial growth (aka mold) on the basal stems is the final step in diagnosis. Properly timed foliar fungicide applications can prove effective in managing this pathogen.
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