By Linda Geist
University of Missouri Extension, SCN Diagnostics and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council are again offering free testing for soybean cyst nematode (SCN), the No. 1 pathogen of soybean in the United States.
Mandy Bish, MU Extension plant pathologist and director of the SCN Diagnostics clinic, says Missouri farmers can submit four soil samples for free SCN egg counts to the clinic in Columbia. Additional tests are available for a nominal fee. Soybean infected with SCN often appear healthy above the ground, making the pathogen difficult to detect, says Bish.
SCN is a microscopic pest that damages soybean roots and reduces the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients, leading to stunted growth, poor pod development and significant yield loss.
Source : missouri.edu