Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybeans

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) has spread to most soybean-growing areas and is often ranked second only to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in economic losses caused to soybeans. This root-rotting organism infects soybean plants very early in the growing season, often as early as germination to just after crop emergence. However, above-ground symptoms occur much later in the summer, when the fungus produces a toxin that damages the leaves. This article discusses the environmental conditions leading to SDS development, the symptoms it causes in soybeans, and the management strategies growers can use to limit its damage to the crop.

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