Plant-parasitic nematodes cause subtle to severe losses in Virginia soybeans. In some cases, nematodes predispose plants to other diseases and cause even more losses such as with sudden death syndrome. The combined effect of cultural practices, resistant varieties and seed treatments need to be investigated in Virginia to provide better field-specific recommendations in managing soybean cyst nematode, the most threatening nematode, and SDS. This project seeds to survey production practices and their effects on SCN and SDS, to characterize SCN races in fields known to be infested with these nematodes and to evaluate variety resistance, seed treatment alone and in combination for reducing losses to SCN and SDS in Virginia soybeans.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents