New Nematodes Knowledge Needed

Soybean Checkoff Helps Set Direction for Future Nematode Research

115 MILLION BUSHELS LOST: That’s about how much yield soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) steal from U.S. soybean farmers on average each year. In fact, nationwide, no other pest or disease hurts U.S. soybean yields more.

And now SCN isn’t the only nematode out there causing damage. Root-knot nematode (RKN) and reniform nematode (RN) have begun to impact soybean yields in all southern states along the Gulf Coast, in the Carolinas and other areas as well.

RKN species have been found in multiple hosts, including soybeans and corn, in northern and southern locations. RN has long been a production challenge in cotton throughout its growing region. And now, with the increased rotation of soybeans with cotton and corn in the South, these parasitic nematodes pose a serious threat to soybean production.

To help direct research efforts to manage these and other nematodes threatening soybeans, the soybean checkoff’s Production Research program facilitated meetings of key soybean research specialists charged with evaluating and establishing focused plans to direct future soybean research efforts.

One such group met in St. Louis in February 2011 to outline the direction of nematode research. The group of 19 researchers consisted of specialists in soybean pathology, nematology and soybean genetics and breeding, representing various land-grant universities throughout the South.

The group established research goals along with direction to reach those goals, which include:

• Determining the distribution and impact of the nematodes
• Genetics research and breeding for resistance
• Molecular biology research to develop techniques for disrupting nematode feeding

The nematode research group’s plan centers on advancing nematode research in order to provide U.S. soybean farmers with effective management strategies to deal with U.S. soybeans’ emerging new pests. Ultimately, these efforts should help to boost overall U.S. soybean production.