Plano, Texas
December 26, 2002

This fall's warm, wet weather not only delayed soybean harvest throughout much of the southern and southeastern sections of the United States, it has also caused many industry experts in that region to recommend producers consider a fungicide treatment for their 2003 soybean planting seed.

"Seed quality in Ohio in 2002 is definitely not as good as it was in 2001," reports Dr. Jim Beuerlein, Ohio State University professor of horticulture and crop science. "Due to the weather, a lot of fields didn't get harvested in a timely fashion so seedborne diseases, such as phomopsis seed decay, are a concern. Some form of treatment to protect 2003 planting seed against seedborne diseases will be
necessary."

Dr. David Holshouser, Virginia Tech University extension soybean specialist says seed quality in his area is "probably the worst I've ever seen. Two diseases, phomopsis seed decay and purple seed stain, are the main culprits. But there are likely other problems, as well.

"My advice to producers concerning 2003 soybean planting is to first find out where the seed was grown. If produced in those areas where there have been harvest problems this fall, then I believe I'd definitely use a seed treatment. My general recommendation regarding seed treatment has always been that they are beneficial if planting early into cool, wet soils," Holshouser says.

Higher levels than normal of phomopsis seed decay and mottled bean virus are also being reported in early testing of 2002 harvested soybeans by the Iowa State University seed testing laboratory. "Approximately 5 percent of the samples submitted thus far are showing phomopsis infection levels of up to 15 percent," reports Dr. Denis McGee, professor of plant pathology.

Penn State University Plant Pathologist Dr. Erick De Wolf says in the November 15, 2002, issue of Capital Region Crop Report that "it's important to realize that seed with either phomopsis seed decay or purple stain will have reduced germination. The use of diseased seed also translates into seedling diseases and reduced stands. Growers should avoid using seed lots with a high incidence of seed diseases and evaluate seed using warm germination tests. Seed found to have less than 85 percent
germination should receive a seed treatment fungicide.

Dr. Chris Tingle, University of Arkansas extension soybean agronomist reports similar concerns. "Based on growing conditions and the overall soybean crop in much of the mid-South and some areas of the Midwest, the quality of 2003 soybean planting seed will be an issue," he says. "Growers in the mid-South also will likely be looking to plant earlier maturing varieties because of the way weather delayed the 2002 harvest. For those reasons, producers may want to consider treatment options for their 2003 planting."

Those options include the use of seed-applied fungicides such as Rival Pak from Gustafson. The disease-fighting components of Rival Pak include two contact and two systemic fungicides. Together, they provide protection against pythium, aspergillus, penicilliium, rhizopus, rhizoctonia, fusarium, phomopsis, and collectotrichum.

"While research shows that soybean fungicide seed treatments consistently demonstrate their value under nearly every type of growing condition, they're especially important when the seed has been exposed to seedborne diseases as was likely the case in many regions during this past harvest season," says Paul Holliday, Gustafson product manager.