Effect of Soybean Seed Treatments on Diseases and Yield

Damping off/root rot (caused by Oomycete pathogens Pythium spp.), Phytophthora root rot (caused by Phytophthora sojae), Rhizoctonia root/stem rot (caused by a Basidiomycete fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn) and sudden death syndrome (caused by an Ascomycete fungus Fusarium virguliforme) are among the most common soilborne diseases of soybean. These pathogens cause problems in stand establishment, reduce seedling emergence, pre- and post-emergence damping off, kill emerged seedlings, and in severe cases leads to replanting. Seed treatment is the most widely used method to reduce losses due to these diseases in interfering life cycle of the pathogens. The objective of this study was to assess efficacy of seed treatments on disease incidence and grain yield.