As you prepare for 2022 planting, Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) may not be top of mind just yet. SDS symptoms often don’t manifest until late summer, but pests like SDS and Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) infect soybeans early in the season. And, these silent killers can devastate soybean yields.
With the growing season quickly approaching, it’s important to understand the causes of these yield-robbers and the preventive measures you can take to protect your yield potential in 2022.
Pathogen Development
SDS, a soilborne disease caused by Fusarium virguliforme, infects soybeans in the early growth stages, but foliar symptoms won’t appear until it’s too late to protect against it. Growers can experience as much as 80% yield loss from this disease.
SCN is capable of prolific reproduction; a single Cyst Nematode can result in over 1 billion eggs in a season because it rapidly multiplies through multiple generations. And as the No. 1 pest in soybeans, SCN has grown to cause more than $1 billion in damages annually, says the University of Minnesota Extension.
These pests continue to evolve and adapt to different growing conditions, with SDS thriving in cooler, wet conditions – often present during early planting – and SCN preferring drier conditions. This range of environments means soybeans in all growing regions are at risk.
Visual Symptoms
Visual symptoms of SDS include noticeable foliar symptoms with yellow spots on the leaves, defoliation and subsequent leaf area reduction, leading to pod expulsion and potentially catastrophic yield loss. SCN damage can be caused without visual symptoms to the crop, making it even harder to detect in fields.
When SDS and SCN are found in the same field, this destructive duo can multiply yield loss rapidly as SCN feeds on soybean roots, causing the punctured roots to be more susceptible to SDS infection.
Because visible symptoms of SDS don’t show up until later in the year, the early stages of SDS infection are often forgotten. And in certain parts of the U.S., SCN is able to rapidly adapt to resistant varieties, making soybeans more vulnerable to both SCN and SDS.
Dale Ireland, Ph.D., technical product lead for Syngenta Seedcare, says it’s important for growers to be prepared to defend their yields, which includes using every tool available in their toolbox. Nonhost crop rotation, SCN- and SDS-resistant genetics, and seed treatments should all be used to help protect your return on investment.
Combining a powerful SDS seed treatment with crop rotation and SDS- and SCN-resistant varieties can significantly reduce the risk of early-season infection and subsequent late-season foliar symptoms, thereby protecting your bottom line.
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