Researchers recently identified a new soybean disease caused by a unique pathogen. The working group named the pathogen Xylaria necrophora, and the disease itself taproot decline, or TRD, because of the way it attacks the primary soybean root. It appears a bit like sudden death syndrome, but roots of affected soybeans looked more like black root rot, a cotton disease. Work focuses on helping farmers and agronomists identify the disease, while also documenting distribution and exploring potential solutions for control. One key focus of the research is product testing and variety screening for resistance to the disease.
Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents, researchers, soybean breeders