
Management reference for
white mold, soybean cyst nematode, and Phytophthora in Soybeans Bruce Potter - IPM Specialist SW MN, SW Experiment Station - Lamberton, MN
Ward Stienstra - Extension Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Pathology
| White mold | Soybean cyst nematode | Phytophthora | |
| When are symptoms and yield loss worse? | Cool & wet during flowering. Early, heavy canopy formation. | Conditions that cause poor root development. Moist early, Hot droughty mid- season | Wet soils |
| Time of year problems occur | Flowering to harvest | Season long | Seedling blight and mid-season plant death. |
| Do races of organism exist? | Races or biotypes are suspected. | YES, 16 known More suspected. Most SCN in MN are race 3 | YES, 42 races known more suspected. |
| Are resistant varieties available? | No true gene based resistance known. Some varieties more or less sensitive to white mold infection. Less susceptible varieties may still become severely diseased. | Currently three genetic sources in MN production varieties & tolerance. SCN resistant varieties can still have nematode reproduction. Nematode race changes may occur if resistance sources are not rotated. | Several genes (Rps) & tolerance in commercially available MN varieties. Failures of Rps 1a, 1b, 1c and possibly 1k have occurred in MN. New races develop if a resistance gene is continually used. |
| How does over-wintering occur? | Sclerotia can persist many years | Cysts and eggs can persist in soil | Oospores |
| How are they spread? | Wind born ascospores for short distances, infected soybean straw and manure, combine | Tillage equipment, soil movement with wind and water | Soil movement. New races develop within a field. Organism is widespread. |
| Seed spread? | YES, If fungus on seed or sclerotia in seed lot. | YES, Soil particles with seed | NO |
| Does tillage help? | MAYBE short term or under low disease pressure. | NO | YES, If tillage improves soil drainage and warmth. |
| Does rotation help? | YES, May need more than one year of a non-host including weed hosts to reduce inoculum level. | YES, May need more than one year of non-host when populations are high. A single year of SCN resistant soybeans may not reduce populations for susceptible varieties to yield well. | NO |
| Does row spacing make a difference? | YES, Drill beans tend to have higher incidence of white mold. | NO | NO, Drilled beans, however, eliminate the cultivation option. |
| Does seeding rate help? | YES, Avoid excessive seeding rates. | NO | NO, Stand loss may lower population below intended if susceptible variety. |
| Does soil fertility make a difference? | YES, Disease can be worse if canopy lodges. | YES, Adequate fertility can counter root inefficiency caused by soybean cyst nematode | NO |
| Do seed treatments help? | TBZ fungicides on seed lots known to have white mold | NO | Metalaxyl (Ridomil and Apron) seed treatments can help reduce damping off in some conditions. Not season long control. Susceptible varieties only. |
| Are there post planting chemical treatments that work? | MAYBE, Fungicides and some herbicides (e.g. Cobra) may reduce white mold losses. Economics, timings and rates not well worked out. | NO, Nematicides may provide temporary supression of populations but not season long control. | NO |
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Created on 03/10/98 by M. Werner Last revised on 4/13/00.