2020
Investigating Alternative Nematicides and Continued Grower Education for Improved Soybean Cyst Nematode Management
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
NematodePest
Lead Principal Investigator:
Emmanuel Byamukama, South Dakota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

The soybean cyst nematode is difficult to manage because it inhabits the soil and can survive up to 10 years without a host, therefore it is not practically possible to eradicate SCN. Management of SCN requires a concerted effort that includes grower awareness, use of resistant/tolerant soybean cultivars, supplemented by nematicide seed treatments where SCN population density in the soil is high. Researchers will offer free SCN testing for SD soybean producers with this project. They will also investigate nematode-infecting viruses that could be used as biological control agents against SCN. This may result in adopting effective SCN management practices and development of alternative management approaches.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension specialists

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Objective 1. Create awareness and continue to offer sponsored SCN testing for South Dakota producers.
We will continue to create SCN awareness and to demonstrate the effective SCN management practices in the second year of this project. Producers and crop consultants will continue to submit SCN soil samples for SCN testing for free. This incentive will encourage sample submission and each sample results will be communicated to the submitter with recommendations for management depending in on the level of SCN found.

Objective 2. Test several plant extracts as potential nematicides against SCN.
Plant extracts which have been tested against other plant parasitic nematodes will be evaluated. Extracts found to be effective against SCN in the lab will be further characterized under greenhouse conditions. First year preliminary results indicate wormwood weed extract has nematdicidal properties, causing up to 58% mortality after 48 hours of incubation. Further testing to be done in the second year of the project.

Objective 3. Determine nematode-infecting viruses for potential use as biocontrol agents.
SCN detected in soil samples submitted to the clinic will be subjected to virus detection, to identify viruses infecting SCN. Populations of SCN found infected with viruses and non-infected populations will be used to inoculate healthy soybeans to compare their infectivity on soybeans. SCN viruses that can be used as biological control agents will be identified and recommended for further characterization. Testing for viruses in SCN populations will be done in this second year of the project.

Final Project Results

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.