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Minnesota soybean growers urged to watch for red crown rot

A new soybean disease threat is emerging in Minnesota.

University of Minnesota Extension plant pathologist Dean Malvick says red crown rot has been confirmed in southwestern Minnesota.

“We found it (there) last year. It’s been found in Wisconsin (and) we suspect it might have spread further than those locations. It may well be in other places in Minnesota (and) we want to know where it is.”

He tells Brownfield red crown rot symptoms resemble Sudden Death Syndrome and brown stem rot.

“With the interveinal chlorosis and necrosis, the brown and yellow discoloration between the veins. Also want to look at the lower part of the stem right at the soil line, it becomes reddish.”

Malvick says red crown rot has the potential to reduce soybean yields by more than 30 percent.