NCERA_OLD200: Management Strategies to Control Major Soybean Virus Diseases in the North Central Region
Statement of Issues and Justification
Soybean viruses have reached near-epidemic proportions in many North- Central soybean growing regions. This is resulting in production problems for producers that include yield reduction, green stem, and seed discoloration which can result in payment of financial penalties at local elevators. The apparent outbreak is linked to the warm winters of the past few years that allow certain insect vectors, as exemplified by the bean leaf beetle which transmits bean pod mottle virus, to overwinter in unprecedented numbers. These insects efficiently transmit the virus from one soybean plant to another. The problem is particularly vexing because the North-Central region of the United States is the principle soybean producing area of the country. A potentially complicating factor is the recent detection of the newly introduced soybean aphid. Aphis glycines, in Wisconsin with subsequent documented spread to Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, and Kentucky. The aphid can colonize soybean plants. It has recently been shown that this aphid can transmit endemic isolates of soybean mosaic and alfalfa mosaic viruses.Several viruses are probably involved in causing the problems faced by the North-Central producers. A recent survey in Wisconsin identified tobacco ringspot, bean pod mottle, bean yellow mosaic, soybean mosaic, alfalfa mosaic, and tobacco streak viruses in soybean fields. Although incidence and virus type varied with location and soybean variety, the percentage of plants testing virus- positive ranged from 9 in the northwest to 89 in the southeast. During summer of 2000, numerous Iowa fields were observed with incidence of bean pod mottle approaching 100. Other states provided similar reports. A multi-state, multi-disciplinary effort composed of entomologists, plant pathologists, virologists, and agronomists is needed to focus on defining the problem, develop short- and long-term solutions, establish media for more effective dissemination and communication of information, and develop effective cooperation among scientists working on the problem. Focus of the Committee objectives will be on development of Integrated Pest Management tactics to minimize risk associated with this recent problem. Accordingly, the establishment of this Committee falls within the priority research area of Integrated Pest Management. An NCR committee will provide funds, and more importantly, administrative structure to bring leading researchers together to accomplish the objectives. Already, a meeting of about 40 of the region's most experienced entomologists, virologists, and plant pathologists was held at Iowa State University on July 13-14, 2000 to address this significant problem. The meeting, sponsored by the North Central Soybean Research Program, reviewed information that is known, discussed what is still not known, and developed priorities for future research. Primary emphasis was placed on bean pod mottle virus, although other potential virus problems were also addressed. The focus was to formulate both short- and long-term strategies that could be used to solve the problem.
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