Charcoal rot
scouted Oct. 3, 2024
- Scientific Name
- Macrophomina phaseolina
- Background
- Soybeans in Edgecombe County were being scouted and observed 10% of the field was affected in a random pattern, possibly by a green stem issue.
- 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
