Be wary of yellow patches in your soybean field. If caused by soybean cyst nematode (SCN), up to 30% yield loss may have occurred before these visible symptoms even appear. Although relatively new in Canada, SCN poses a significant threat to our growing soybean industry. Endemic in the U.S., SCN causes an estimated $1.5 billion in losses annually. Now is the time to monitor for and contain SCN spread.
Traditional SCN detection methods are limited in detecting different nematode life stages and work best in situations of known or high infestation. 20/20 Seed Labs is the first commercial lab in Canada to offer a DNA-based diagnostic test able to detect SCN in soil, plant roots and seeds. This testing method provides an absolute identification of SCN and detection of even low levels of egg, cyst and motile forms.
Early detection and containment are key to minimizing current and future losses to SCN. This test provides a needed tool for Canadian seed growers and producers to avoid SCN transfer between fields with planting seed or machinery and monitor the effectiveness of resistant varieties. Its applicability to root tissues is also helpful for breeders involved in developing SCN-resistant varieties.
