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Phytophthora pressure picking up steam in soybeans

A plant pathologist says the summer weather pattern has been conducive to phytophthora in soybeans.

Dylan Mangel with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says, “A lot of beans ended up going into wet soil and then we have had consistent rain since then. What’s done it lately is as the soil warms up, phytophthora likes that even more. And then we’re getting these big heavy rains lately.”

He tells Brownfield the disease can kill and damage plants throughout the growing season from the time of planting nearly until harvest. “It wasn’t a really heavy spring for it. It’s kind of rolled in later and it’s still actually picking up steam. We’ve had some really heavy rains in this area and I’m still getting calls from areas that are showing up just now.”

Mangel says infected plants will show signs of brown lesions on the roots.

AUDIO: UNL Plant Pathologist Dylan Mangel