Soybean sudden death
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EmailEditor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSU Crop Advisory Team Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is included.
Over the last few years, the number of fields reported with symptoms of soybean sudden death has been increasing. The first few reports of suspected soybean sudden death are trickling in, so this is a good time to review the disease symptoms and management. Soybean sudden death is caused by a fungus, Fusarium virguliforme (formerly F. solani f.s. glycines). Research shows that there is a definite relationship between soybean sudden death and the soybean cyst nematode. Although soybean cyst nematode is not required for the development of soybean sudden death, it increases its severity. Soybean cyst nematode has been found in all major soybean producing counties in Michigan. A Michigan soybean check-off supported soil testing program for soybean cyst nematode began in 1997. The percentage of soil samples testing positive for soybean cyst nematode has increased over the last few years, to about 65 percent (of an average 1100 samples per year). In fields where soybean sudden death is a problem, a combination of techniques is needed to manage both the cyst nematode and the fungus causing the disease.
Choose resistant varieties to limit yield loss. It’s important to look at both soybean cyst nematode resistance and soybean sudden death resistance levels when selecting varieties. Even when soybean cyst nematode resistant soybeans are used, soybean sudden death may be more severe in fields with a history of high levels of SCN. Because SCN is usually present in fields with SDS, it’s advisable to choose an SCN-resistant soybean that has at least moderate resistance to SDS. Growers requiring group II and shorter maturity soybeans have fewer choices for soybean sudden death resistant varieties than longer maturity groups, but there are some varieties available.
Information about SCN-resistant soybeans in the Michigan soybean variety trial ratings can be found at: http://www.css.msu.edu/varietytrials/soybean/Soybean_Home_Page.htm. Ratings of SDS resistance for commercially available soybeans has been conducted across a number of locations in Illinois for several years. That information, along with SCN ratings, maturity group and yield can be found at the Varietal Information Program for Soybeans (VIPS) websitewww.vipsoybeans.org or at the Southern Illinois University SDS North Central Soybean Research Project website, http://www.siu.edu/"*"*~>http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat07field/pdf/7-26SDS.pdf
