AGC332: CROP DISEASES
MANAGEMENT
(Lecture 12)
Stephen Mushimwa Chileshe
19 April 2021
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stephenmushimwa@yahoo.com
Soybean Diseases
Introduction
• Soybean (Glycine max) belongs to the family
Leguminosae.
• It is one of the most important sources of oil and protein.
• It is commonly used in both human and animal diets.
• Soybeans contain approximately 40% protein and 20% oil
on a dry matter basis.
• Although the oil is used primarily in edible products such
as margarine and cooking oil, it is used industrially in such
products as high-grade paints and pharmaceuticals. 2
• Did you know ...
• In Brazil, about 25% of cars run on
biofuels (mostly sugar and soybeans).
• Studies have shown that soya protein
is 13 times more energy efficient than
organic dairy protein.
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Growth stages (GS)
• Vegetative Stages
• Vegetative stages are described from the time the plant
emerges from the soil.
• After the cotyledon (VC) stage, nodes are counted
beginning with the unifoliate nodes.
• The unifoliate nodes are technically two separate nodes,
but they are counted as one because they occur at the
same position and time on the main stem
• Only nodes on the main stem are counted.
• Nodes on the branches are not considered 4
• Each stage description (table 1) is given a
vegetative stage (V) designation and an
abbreviated title to facilitate
communication.
• Vegetative stage numbers are determined
by counting the number of nodes on the
main stem, beginning with the unifoliate
nodes, that have or have had a fully
developed leaf. 5
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Reproductive Stages
• Reproductive stages are based on flowering, pod
development, seed development, and plant maturation.
• Each stage description is given a reproductive stage (R)
number and an abbreviated title.
• The main stem must be used for determining reproductive
stages.
• When the main stem of a plant is broken or cut off,
reproductive development on the new branches may be
retarded
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• Stages R1 and R2 (table 2) may occur
simultaneously in determinate varieties
because flowering begins at the upper
nodes of the main stem.
• The two stages are approximately 3 days
apart for indeterminate varieties, in which
flowering begins in the lower portion of
the main stem and progresses upward.
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The Zadoks Scale for cereals
• The Zadoks Growth Scale is based on 10 primary plant
growth stages, each divided into 10 secondary growth
stages that indicate the number of plant parts on the main
stem or secondary stage of development.
• This extends the scale from 00 to 99.
• The Zadoks Growth Scale does not run chronologically
from GS00 to 99.
• This because during the plant’s life cycle, many of the
growth stages overlap and while one part of the plant may
be developing another part may be dying.
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• Successful crop management requires an
ability to identify crop growth stages and how
these are impacted by nutrition, disease,
application of herbicides and fungicides and
environmental stressors.
• The principal growth stages used in relation to
disease control and nutrient management are
those from the start of stem elongation
through to early flowering (GS30-GS61).
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Growth stages
• The most important factor in the success of a chemical
application is timing; not in relation to the day of the year,
but in relation to disease development and crop growth.
• A good understanding of the decimal code of growth
stages (GS), the physiology of the plant at each stage and
disease development will all help for sound management
decision making.
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SOYBEAN DISEASES
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Asian Soybean Rust (Phakopsora
pachyrhizi)
• infection occurs when leaves are wet and T°C is between
8°C and 28°C, with optimum 16°C to 28°C
• small brown or brick-red spots on leaves
• rust usually begins in the lower canopy, quickly
progresses up the plant until all of the leaves are infected
• severely diseased plants may become completely
defoliated
• loss of effective leaf tissue results in yield reductions
(fewer and smaller seed) 29
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Recent trends
• Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service, Iowa State
University and Brazil have identified a cluster of genes that
provide resistance to the Asian soybean rust (ASR) fungus
(Phakopsora pachyrhizi).
• In addition, these researchers have been involved in the
largest molecular study of ASR over the past three years by
narrowing the field of 37,500 genes involved in defending the
soybean plant against ASR, to just a few hundred.
• Research is currently underway to study these genes
experimentally to understand their roles in controlling the rust
fungus.
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Other soybean diseases
• Downy mildew
• Bacterial pustule
• Anthracnose
• Brown spot
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Management
• there are three basic management tactics that can play a
role in reducing rust, red-leaf blotch and frogeye leaf spot
epidemics:
• (i)fungicides
• (ii)genetic resistance
• (iii)cultural practices
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Management
• At present, fungicides are the only highly effective tactic
but long-term management will probably depend more on
resistance, in combination with fungicides and changes in
cultural practices
• To be effective, selecting the right fungicide and applying
it at the right time are crucial
Examples: Score, Shavit, Chlorothalonil
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• General principles of good management often help to
reduce or alleviate problems related to abiotic and biotic
stresses.
• Practices like crop rotation, planting healthy, vigorous
seeds, and selection of soybean varieties may all be
important.
• Disease resistance is known to be effective for soybean
rust.
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