Early Season Soybean Diseases

Published: May 29, 2015

This is another interesting year for soybean production and early season soybean diseases in Missouri.  According to the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service as of May 26, 2015, “soybeans were 20 percent planted, compared to 57 percent for the previous year and 43 percent for the 5-year average”.  Emergence appears to be slow and uneven in the few planted fields due to cool, wet conditions

Because weather is a key factor this season, soil-borne pathogens may be contributing to some of the uneven stands and poor vigor in seedlings and may continue to be a problem. A heavy rain event and slow emergence due to compaction could have given Pythium species an opportunity to attack developing seedlings.  Plants which are struggling to send out roots and to survive could be targets for Rhizoctonia or Fusarium species. Plants with comprised root systems were more prone to desiccation from warm, drying winds during the recent spell of higher than normal temperatures.  Some marginal browning of leaflets, wilting of plants and even premature death of plants may occur in drier areas of fields or across large areas of fields.   Thus far this season Rhizoctonia seems to be the most prevalent problem. 

Soybean seedling blights have the potential to cause losses in Missouri soybean fields every year.  The specific seedling blights that occur and their severity vary with the environmental conditions each season.  When checking stands this season, it is important to take into account soil conditions and environmental stress as well as checking for seedling diseases.

Pythium and Phytophthora are favored by wet conditions and are more likely to be serious problems when wet conditions exist at or just after planting.  Rhizoctonia and Fusarium are not as restricted by soil moistures and soil temperatures but still need some moisture to initiate infection.  Macrophomina phaseolina grows best at temperatures between 82-95°F.  Infection of seedlings with Macrophomina is most likely to occur if conditions of high soil temperatures and low soil moisture exist during the first two to three weeks after planting.

Symptoms of Pythium damping-off range from seed rot or preemergence damping-off to early postemergence damping-off.  Affected tissue develops a soft, watery brown rot.  Pythium damping-off is most likely to occur in cool (50-550F), wet soils.

Phytophthora can cause seed rot, preemergence damping-off and early postemergence damping-off.  Initially affected tissue develops a soft, watery brown rot.  Within several days the affected plant parts may dry out and shrivel up becoming dark, dry and brittle.  This early stage Phytophthora is difficult to distinguish from Pythium damping-off.  Phytophthora can also cause a seedling blight in which established seedlings turn yellow, wilt and die.  Generally the entire seedling is affected and roots may be poorly developed and rotted.  Phytophthora root rot is more likely to occur in heavy, wet soils, low areas or compacted areas, but it may occur in light soils or better drained areas if heavy rains occur after planting.

Rhizoctonia can cause seedling blight and root rot of soybean.  Affected stands may have an uneven appearance and seedlings appear pale green in color and stunted in growth.  The identifying feature of this disease is a small, reddish lesion on one side of the stem at or just below the soil line.  This lesion develops into a sunken, cankered area at the point of infection.  Sometimes the lesion will expand to completely girdle the stem.  On severely infected seedlings, the entire hypocotyl may be discolored and shriveled into a dry, stringy or wiry stem.

Fusarium can also cause root rot of soybean.  Infection is usually confined to roots and lower stems.  The lower part of the taproot and the lateral root system may be discolored, deteriorated or completely destroyed.  General roots show a nondescript brown discoloration and a dry, shrunken rot.  Above ground portions of plants may appear off-color and stunted.  Plants with severe Fusarium root rot may die prematurely.

Once the crop has been planted, there is little that can be done to reduce incidence or severity of soybean seedling diseases.  Additional stress from poor growing conditions, herbicide injury or other factors may compound problems with soybean seedling diseases.  Prior to planting it is important to consider variety selection (especially in fields with a history of Phytophthora), fungicide seed treatment, crop rotation, seedbed preparation and conditions at planting.