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Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybean
Causal Agent:
Fusarium virguliforme (formerly Fusarium solani f. sp. glycinae)
Symptoms and Signs:
- foliar symptoms progress from pale yellow spots in between veins, to necrotic lesions with a bright yellow halo, and finally to complete interveinal necrosis
- leaf drop
- blue-green spores on the tap root
- pod abortion
Disease Cycle:
- Spores overwinter in the soil.
- Spores will directly infect soybean roots shortly after emerging.
- Severe colonization occurs between R1 and R6 growth stages. The fungus produces toxins and foliar symptoms appear.
- As plant matures, leaves and pods will drop.
- The fungus produces hundreds of spores in the plant material that will serve as inoculum for subsequent growing seasons.
Disease Management:
- Seed treatments
- Host resistance
- Manage Soybean Cyst Nematode
- Cultural practices- plant when soil is warm, improve drainage, reduce compaction