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Less SCN pressure expected in 2019

A plant pathologist says the cool and wet growing season has slowed the reproduction of Soybean Cyst Nematode.

Greg Tylka with Iowa State University tells Brownfield conditions in many parts of the Midwest have not been conducive to SCN activity.

“Our late planting into wet, cool soils probably slowed down soybean cyst nematode. And the result of that in a normal growing season where we might have five or six turns of the life-cycle, we may only have three or four turns of the life-cycle (this year).”

He points out that can vary on location but says one of the universal truths about SCN is that the root-feeding pest prefers hot, dry soils.

“And for many parts of the Midwest, those two words, hot and dry, did not characterize soil conditions through at least the first part of the season.”

Tylka says soybean cyst nematodes also seem to prefer soils with high pH levels, though researchers have yet to understand why.

He recommends testing for SCN this fall by taking soil samples that can be sent to The SCN Coalition.