Over the past years, we have been investigating the biological approach of managing soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in North Dakota (ND) through identification and evaluation of suppressive soil to SCN from different soybean fields in ND. In our field survey in 2021, we observed that 10 such soybean fields which had high SCN infestation in the past showed lower SCN population at the time of sampling. From our greenhouse experiments, we identified two of those fields from Richland and Dicky counties reduced nematode activity in inoculated field soils as compared to controls, showing suppressiveness to SCN which is transferrable. We thus propose to characterize the microbes present in those soils through high throughput sequencing. By sequencing the amplicons of bacteria and fungi, we will characterize the microbes with biocontrol properties at higher abundance and diversity present in the rhizosphere of soybean in suppressive soils as compared to other conducive soils. We will analyze the soils’ physical and chemical properties to check the role of abiotic factors in suppressing SCN. In addition, we will identify species of plant-parasitic nematodes and non-plant parasitic nematodes from all field samples and check their role in suppressing SCN. The findings of this research on beneficial microbes with biocontrol properties can help growers in sustainable management of SCN.

• Verify the suppressive soil from soybean fields in ND identified from our previous work.
• Evaluate the factors for suppressiveness to SCN in the suppressive field soil.
• Characterize the bacterial and fungal taxa with biocontrol properties associated with SCN-suppressiveness in the suppressive fields

• This research will give holistic information of suppressive factors; role of soil’s abiotic and biotic components in suppressing SCN in the suppressive fields in ND.
• It will give information about the beneficial microbes with biocontrol properties present in the rhizosphere of soybean in the suppressive field soil.

SCN is one of the most damaging pests of soybean. There are management strategies such as crop rotation, host resistance and nematicides to manage SCN but they are either short lived as in the case of host resistance, or do not offer wide cropping options like crop rotation, or expensive and harmful to environment like chemical nematicides. So, our research on biological approach of managing SCN through suppressive soil could be a safe and sustainable alternative option. We observed two fields soil suppressing SCN in the past experiments. From this research, we will characterize the microbes with potential biocontrol properties in the rhizosphere of soybean in those suppressive fields. The information on the biocontrol agents will be helpful for managing SCN. Biocontrol agents can be reared in mass scale and used in the SCN-infested fields. Also, bionematicides which are specific to target nematode and eco-friendly could be developed from the metabolites or secretions of the microbes for sustainable management of SCN.