Efficacy of Seed Treatment Chemistries in Soybean for Fusarium virguliforme and Heterodera glycines

Author

Nicholas Alan Frederking, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

5-1-2017

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Plant and Soil Science

First Advisor

Bond, Jason

Abstract

Fusarium virguliforme, the causal agent of sudden death syndrome (SDS) in North America, and Heterodera glycines, soybean cyst nematode (SCN), are significant threats to the production of soybean. In 2014, two field trials were established to evaluate seed treatments and their efficacy in managing SDS and SCN. The locations were selected because each has a history of SDS and SCN. Plots were 3.04 meters wide by 6.1 meters in length with row spacing of 0.76 meters. Each plot received 2.45 grams of infested sorghum per 30.5 centimeters of row. At each location, two soybean varieties and ten different seed treatments were tested in 2014. In 2015, twelve seed treatments were tested on the same two varieties at the same two locations. Seed treatments were evaluated for phytotoxicity, vigor, stand count, SDS foliar ratings and soybean yield. Soil samples were collected at planting and at harvest to determine SCN reproduction. Root samples were collected from each plot to quantify the amount of F. virguliforme DNA in the soybean roots using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) protocol. ANOVA and Fisher’s LSD Test were used to separate treatment means. Analysis of the qPCR was done by comparing the quantification cycle (Cq) values and separating means using ANOVA. There were significant differences between varieties for soybean yield and disease index. Treatments containing fluopyram had more phytotoxicity than treatments lacking fluopyram at both locations. Several treatments allowed for higher SCN reproduction than treatments with Clariva. At Ina, a fluopyram treatment and one of the Clariva treatments had higher soybean yield than the non-treated control. At Shawneetown, one fluopyram treatment had higher soybean yield than all other treatments. In the qPCR analysis, seed treatments with fluopyram had a lower amount of F. virguliforme DNA in the roots than the non-treated control.