Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) has shaped Missouri soybean production for generations. It rarely draws attention in a single season, but over time it reduces yield, stresses plants and forces farmers and researchers to keep adjusting.
“Much of the genetic discovery, pretty much started at the Delta Research Center in Southeast Missouri back in the early 1980s,” University of Missouri professor of plant genetics and biotechnology Henry Nguyen says.
That long history matters because SCN is not static. It adapts. And in Missouri, it has had decades to do so.
The Resistance that Carried Farmers — and What’s Changing
For years, resistant soybean varieties built on a small number of genetic sources helped Missouri growers manage SCN pressure. But relying heavily on one resistance background has allowed the nematode to gradually adapt.
“SCN populations in Missouri have been exposed to the same resistance source for decades,” says University of Missouri research scientist Sushil Chhapekar. “That has allowed SCN populations to gradually adapt, with about 50% of Missouri SCN populations now showing high virulence on it.”
That adaptation often happens quietly.
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