Seedling diseases in soybeans are not often a huge issue in Delaware. but can be problematic in other parts of the Midatlantic. One reason we do not often have major issues with seedling diseases of soybeans is the texture of our soils. Most often seedling diseases take off when soils are wet and waterlogged because either the pathogen does well under these conditions (Pythium, Phytophthora) or the stress caused by the waterlogged soil allows for easy colonization of the roots (Fusarium, Rhizoctonia).
This condition does not occur that often in the coarse textured, sandy soils in many parts of Delaware. That being said, it is still important for producers, consultants, and industry personnel to understand seed treatments options if for no other reason than to understand what the various active ingredients do and how well they may work.
The members of the Identification and Biology of Seedling Pathogens of Soybean project funded by the North Central Soybean Research Program and plant pathologists across the United States have developed the following ratings for how well fungicide seed treatments control seedling diseases of soybeans in the United States.
Efficacy ratings for each fungicide active ingredient listed in the table were determined by field-testing the materials over multiple years and locations by the members of this group, and include ratings summarized from national fungicide trials published in Plant Disease Management Reports (and formerly Fungicide and Nematicide Tests) by the American Phytopathological Society at http://www.apsnet.org. Each rating is based on the fungicide’s level of disease control, and does not necessarily reflect efficacy of fungicide active ingredient combinations and/or yield increases obtained from applying the active ingredient.