Managing soybean cyst nematode to protect yield potential

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) populations are lurking in the soil, feeding on vulnerable soybean roots and limiting yield potential. It’s time to reclaim the yield potential lost to these hidden pests.

Soybean cyst nematode has been present in the U.S. since the 1950s and remains the number one pest in soybean production today. In the early 1990s, growers began planting resistant varieties, but genetic resistance alone may no longer be enough.

“Once you have SCN, you always have SCN. They don’t go away. It’s really impossible to eliminate the population,” says Nathan Schroeder, nematologist with the University of Illinois. “The eggs are tough. They are survivors and can hang around in the field for multiple years, even without feeding. They’ll be just fine waiting for the next soybean crop to come along.”

While corn is not a host crop, SCN can survive during crop rotations. Despite using resistant varieties and rotating crops, growers may still lose up to 25% of yield potential to this microscopic pest.

Dair McDuffee, product development manager for Valent seed treatments, notes that there are no silver bullets for SCN control. However, using a nematicide like Aveo® EZ Nematicide seed treatment can help keep plants healthier and preserve yield potential.

“Valent’s biological nematicide, Aveo EZ Nematicide, contains a strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens specific to our product. It colonizes the root quickly, allowing it to grow with the plant. Testing has shown it can produce metabolites that cause paralysis in some nematodes,” McDuffee says.

Seed treatments like Aveo do not eliminate nematodes from the soil, but they help reduce feeding damage, support plant health and limit year-over-year population increases.

Aveo offers ease of use with a low application rate. “It has a use rate of 0.1 fluid ounces per unit, delivering 2 million colony-forming units (CFUs) per seed,” McDuffee says.

Soybean cyst nematode is a hidden threat that requires proactive management, even without visible symptoms.

To learn more about Aveo EZ Nematicide, visit the product page or contact your local Valent representative.

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