Charcoal rot
scouted July 11, 2024
- Scientific Name
- Macrophomina phaseolina
- Background
- Soybeans in Yadkin County were scouted, and it was observed that 2% of the field was affected by blight, canker, defoliation, dieback, browning, and wilting in localized patches. The site is in a high area and is dry and sunny. Plants begin to wilt and slight discoloration of the leaf (yellow) for a very short time until leaves turn brown and fall off. The plants have low stalks. The environment is hot and dry.
- Conclusion
- The issue was identified as charcoal rot of soybean, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina. It starts out with patches of stunted or wilted plants, and while the infection can happen very early in the season, the symptoms usually appear after flowering or when plants become stressed. It usually does not represent a major threat to production in the state. Crop rotation to non-host crops may help limit survival of the fungus in soils, and drought stress mitigation, when needed, may limit the severity of disease symptoms.
- Resources
