Note: This is the final in a four-part series featuring the new video collection.
As soybean growers make their seed variety selections for 2021, The SCN Coalition encourages them to talk to a trusted expert – a seed representative, crop consultant or university/extension specialist – to determine if they are using an effective source of SCN resistance and rotating sources of SCN resistance.
Iowa State University Nematologist Greg Tylka says most SCN-resistant varieties have the PI 88788 source of resistance, and in many soybean fields, the nematode is dragging down the yields of these varieties.
“Not every SCN resistant variety with PI 88788 is equally good in terms of nematode control. Still, in many experiments, we see the Peking source of resistance out-yielding the best PI 88788 varieties,” he says. “And for 2021, soybean growers will have a third source of resistance sold by Syngenta under the Golden Harvest and NK Seeds brands. That source of resistance is PI 89772.”
In a new video series titled “Let’s Talk Todes,” Tylka and University of Missouri Plant Pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette explain why the SCN-resistant soybean variety a soybean grower selects can greatly impact their bottom line.
Bissonnette says most growers she talks to don’t know what source of resistance they are using.
“Growers need to ask what source of SCN resistance they are using and make sure they rotate to another source of resistance to keep the nematode guessing,” she says. “Studies show after using PI 88788 for decades, it isn’t as effective as it once was in many fields. That’s why growers need to more actively manage SCN and take the first step and test their soil for SCN, if they haven’t already done so, to know which fields are problematic.”
Tylka says if a soybean grower planted PI 88788 in their last rotation, they should consider planting a Peking variety or the PI 89772 source of resistance.
“Growing the same source of SCN resistance for each soybean rotation increases the likelihood the nematodes will become resistant – dragging soybean yields lower,” he said. “Throwing different tools at SCN makes the overall management program more robust.”
About The SCN Coalition
The SCN Coalition is a public/checkoff/private partnership formed to increase the number of farmers who are actively managing SCN. Our goal is to increase soybean farmers’ profit potential and realize higher yields. Partners in The SCN Coalition include university scientists from 28 states and Ontario, grower checkoff organizations including the North Central Soybean Research Program, United Soybean Board and several state soybean promotion boards, and corporate partners including BASF, Bayer, Growmark, Nufarm, Pioneer (Corteva), Syngenta, Valent and Winfield United.
