In recent years soybean growers have reported increasing problems with plants retaining green leaves, green stems, and/or green pods in fields of mature soybeans resulting in delayed harvest and decreased quality of harvested samples. In some cases, the problem was so severe that the soybeans were not harvested. In other cases, seed quality reductions caused significant losses in seed value and/or rejection of truckloads at the elevator. The cause of the problem is not known and research is needed to elucidate those factors associated with this late-season soybean malady, referred to as the green plant problem.

Researchers are involved in a comprehensive study that is trying to determine...