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NCERA137: Soybean Diseases (NCR137)

Statement of Issues and Justification

Nature and Significance of Issue for Which Multistate Coordination is Proposed

The NC Region produces 80% of soybean grown in the US. Production has increased because of changed management systems, improved genetics, and expanded soybean acreage. In 2003 yield losses to diseases of soybean were estimated at 7%. Diseases caused by Phytophthora sojae have maintained importance as a limitation on soybean yields. The importance of Sclerotinia stem rot & sudden death syndrome have increased due to climatic trends and altered management practices. It's apparent the importance of soybean cyst nematode includes damaging interactions with Fusarium root rots, brown stem rot & sudden death syndrome. PCR techniques confirmed the existence of symptomatic and asymptomatic forms of the brown stem rot pathogen, Phialophora gregata and also indicates this pathogen is much more widespread than previously thought. Plant pathogens prevalent in the southern US, have increased in importance in the NC Region. Diseases caused by these pathogens are charcoal rot, frogeye leafspot, and Bean Pod Mottle Virus. At the same time virus diseases spread by the soybean aphid are added threats to soybean yield. The possible role of the soybean aphid as a vector of viruses will necessitate considerable effort aimed at understanding and managing this pest and virus diseases that it transmits. Soybean rust remains the greatest potential threat to soybean production in this area. Its introduction would require major increases in the use of fungicides, greatly expanded efforts at finding sources of resistance to the rust fungus, and significant changes in soybean management practices.

How the Proposed Activity Addresses Nation and/or Regional Priorities

Since inception in 1984, the annual meeting of NCR-137 has had near perfect attendance. Designated representatives and interested individuals from private companies, commodity groups, and public institutions meet to exchange oral and written reports on soybean diseases and soybean disease research. The annual meeting is aligned with that of other groups interested in the health and productivity of soybean and is held in conjunction with the Soybean Breeders Workshop and every third year with the Southern Soybean Disease Workers Workshop. Collaborations within NCR-137 are the basis for numerous regional research projects and multistate grant proposals funded by groups such as the NC IPM Program and the NC Soybean Research Program (NCSRP). These projects coordinate regional research on Sclerotinia stem rot, Phytophthora root rot, brown stem rot, and sudden death syndrome. A regional survey of NCR-137 researchers provides annual soybean disease loss estimates for the NC Region. A joint effort of the United Soybean Board and NCR-137 membership, this survey is a comprehensive assessment of soybean yield losses to plant diseases. Information from this survey is used to determine the relative importance of soybean diseases in order to prioritize research and guide breeding efforts. A similar collaboration of NCR-137 members, the Soybean Pathogen Germplasm Collection, is a collection of isolates of the regionally important soybean pathogens; Phytophthora sojae, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines and Heterodera glycine, that is used for breeding and research. NCR-137 members maintain a close association with NCR-200 and NCR-504 committees in order to coordinate research on soybean rust and soybean viruses, emerging pathogens that in the future will be at the forefront of NCR-137 members research and extension programs. NCR-137 is extensively involved in technology transfer via traditional and electronic media. The Soybean Plant Health Initiative (PHI) (http://planthealth.info/index.htm), a collaborative effort between the NCSRP and NC Region soybean researchers, is accessible to growers, consultants, and researchers. Its website is a centralized source of soybean disease research and disease management information. Links to similar systems in each state extend the reach and content of the PHI into traditional extension systems. NCR-137 membership, as stakeholders in the activity of the committe has influenced research directions on soybean diseases important in the NC Region to the benefit of soybean producers the ultimate costumer for their efforts.

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