Improving White Mold Management of Soybean in Wisconsin
2017
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Department of Plant Pathology
Project Media
White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) is caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and consistently ranks in the top ten diseases plaguing global soybean crops (Wrather et al., 2010). In 2009, United States soybean losses due to white mold reached almost 59 million bushels and cost growers a corresponding ~$560 million (Koenning & Wrather, 2010; Peltier et al., 2012). Furthermore, according to a United Soybean Board report from 2011, white mold epidemics in the Great Lakes region alone were responsible for 94% of nationwide losses to the disease and cost regional growers ~$138 million (USDA-NASS 2015). White mold is infamously characterized by its challenging fungal promiscuity and longevity, and by the subsequently devastating crop losses; Wisconsin growers justifiably rank white mold management third in significance and concern.