White mold-infected soybeans in Hendricks, MN; 2019

Due to an excessively wet growing season, some soybean growers experienced heavy white mold pressure. As the season comes to a close and you’re making plans for 2020, we want to remind you of how this year’s white mold pressure can affect next season’s crop.

Caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, white mold infects the soybean plant by producing resting structures called sclerotia. According to research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, sclerotia forms on the inside and outside of stems and pods, and is deposited into the soil after the combine rolls through. The fungus then overwinters and can survive in the soil for 6 to 10 years until conditions are prime for re-emergence.

Be Ready to Take Action

If your fields suffered this year or have a history of white mold, it’s important to take precautionary action to protect your soybeans from infection. White mold thrives in prolonged wet soil, high humidity and cool temperatures, and infections occur well before symptoms show. By the time you can see widespread symptoms it’s often too late to manage the disease effectively.

Always be watchful of current weather patterns and scout early and often. If you see the early signs of white mold (trumpet shaped apothecia in the soil) or you have sustained conditions favorable to disease development, you may want to consider a fungicide application at early bloom (R1) to full bloom (R2).

We recommend applying a preventive fungicide like Miravis® Neo. It contains Adepidyn® fungicide, one of the highest-performing, broad spectrum SDHI molecules available, to deliver excellent white mold suppression. Miravis Neo also provides superior plant-health benefits that help keep soybeans greener, longer, even under low disease pressure.

With activity against one of the most damaging soilborne diseases, Miravis Neo takes the guesswork out of disease management, maximizing yield and ROI potential.

Sign up for the Know More, Grow More Digest to receive twice-monthly agronomic email updates pertinent to your area.

All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.