In the midst of a warm and wet summer, soybean growers should plan to keep an eye out for Phytophthora root rot. A fungal disease most common in fields with saturated soils, Phytophthora root rot can cause wilting or even death of crops late in the season.

Syngenta agronomists recommend that growers scout their fields and watch for the following symptoms of Phytophthora if their region has undergone excessive wet weather:

• Crop discoloration: According to the Purdue University Extension, growers will usually notice dark brown discoloration of the stem and lower branches during the stem rot phase of Phytophthora. In more mature crops, watch for yellow or white leaves.
• Stand problems: Stand issues or a lack of emergence might also be an indicator of the disease early in the season. If stand establishment is problematic, growers should plan to dig up the seed and check for seed rot.

CruiserMaxx® Beans with Vibrance seed treatment, a combination of separately registered products, provides a broad range of protection against early-season soybean pests. CruiserMaxx Beans with Vibrance delivers systemic root protection against certain seedborne, soilborne and foliar diseases, including Phytophthora root rot.

The seed growers choose also makes a difference. For example, NK® Soybeans feature genetic resistance against Phytophthora root rot and other diseases.

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