DISEASES OF SOYBEAN - BROWN STEM ROT

To distinguish brown stem rot and sudden death syndrome, split open the lower stem of affected plants. Plants with brown stem rot will have a brown pith (see plant on right in photo) compared to non-infected plants (see plant on left in photo). Plants with sudden death syndrome do not exhibit pith discoloration.

Brown stem rot can be controlled through a combination of use of resistant varieties, and crop rotation with crops such as corn. Use a long enough rotation so that soybean debris adequately decays, thus eliminating the source of Phialophora gregata in the field.