2025
Biology and managing seeding pathogens in North Dakota.
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Disease
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Febina Mathew, North Dakota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Paulo Flores, North Dakota State University
Project Code:
NDSC_2025_Agronomy 9
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Leveraged Funding (Non-Checkoff):
n/a
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:
To provide farmers and agricultural professionals with information about seedling diseases.
Information And Results
Project Summary

Seedling pathogens (Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, etc.) can limit soybean yield in the major U.S. production regions ($9.84/A). In North Dakota, the survey conducted in 2023 with funding from the North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) indicated that greater than 60% of the seedling diseases are caused by species of Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and Pythium. In addition, there are other diseases caused by these organisms such as Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), whose causal pathogen is Fusarium virguliforme. We hypothesize that several factors may have contributed to the development of seedling diseases caused by Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and Pythium in 2023. For instance, we observed heavy rains (above-normal precipitation) across ND during the summer of 2023. Tillage practices can leave crop debris infested with seedling pathogens on the soil surface, which allows the organisms to infect soybean and rotational crops. Commercial soybean varieties are available with only tolerance to Phytophthora sojae and F. virguliforme (SDS fungus). There are no commercial varieties with resistance to the species of Fusarium (besides F. virguliforme), Rhizoctonia, or Pythium and we do not have seed treatment data suggesting the available commercial products are effective against these organisms. The presence of seedling pathogens alongside other organisms (e.g., soybean cyst nematode, SCN) can additively compromise yield, and thus, there is a need to understand these pathogens in terms of their prevalence, pathogenicity, and how they can be managed. The information obtained from this research will complement NDSU’s efforts to educate farmers on managing seedling pathogens with current and new management tools.

Project Objectives

• Characterize the species distribution and pathogenicity of seedling pathogens associated with soybeans.
• Identify multiple soybean varieties with resistance to Rhizoctonia solani, and Pythium sp.
• Identify candidate genes conferring resistance to seedling pathogens, which can be used as potential markers in soybean breeding programs and to develop disease-resistant varieties.
• Determine the impact of seed treatment on seedling pathogens (Pythium).

Project Deliverables

• A map describing the current geographic distribution of seedling pathogens in ND that will be made available to soybean farmers.
• Soybean lines with resistance to seedling pathogens are identified for use in NDSU’s breeding program to develop and release disease-resistant varieties for farmers.
• Information on whether the use of seed treatments is effective against emerging soybean pathogens such as Pythium.

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

Soybeans represent an economically important crop for ND farmers and seedling diseases can limit soybean production. Through this research, farmers will obtain information on how to minimize the impact of seedling pathogens on soybean yield, the options available to them for disease management, and how to maximize their return on investment.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.