Answering Your Top Questions About White Mold in Soybeans
White Mold is one of those diseases we plan for, but we never really know if we will have it until it’s here, according to Twin State’s Liqui-Grow division. It has been a significant concern for farmers over the years, and rightfully so, because of how devastating it can be to the crop yield. This disease is very different from other vascular and foliar diseases, so it comes with a very different set of considerations to know about.
Let’s dig into the top questions — and answers — about understanding and managing White Mold in soybeans.
When/where is White Mold likely to show up?
White Mold is most likely to occur during seasons with cooler temperatures and high moisture/humidity in a lush soybean canopy during early flowering. Due to delayed planting in some areas, not all fields will have canopy closure before flowering occurs, which will help keep air flowing under the canopy, reducing disease potential during early reproduction. However, soybeans flower for 3-4 weeks, so if you had White Mold problems two years ago in the same field, you should prepare for a resurgence this year.
How is White Mold different from other diseases?
White Mold infects plants earlier than most foliar soybean diseases. White Mold infects through flowers and destroys the vascular tissue of the plant. As a vascular disease (stem rot), White Mold shuts off water and nutrients to the plant, unlike a foliar disease, which infects through the leaf and reduces photosynthesis.
How does White Mold impact plant health and crop yield?
Significant yield loss may occur from White Mold, depending on when it infects the plants and the size of the infected area. Infected plants can be up to 100% yield loss because White Mold typically kills the plant before it starts seed fill, but this may only be in small areas within a field.
Read more at Liqui-Grow.
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