An Iowa State University Extension agronomist says the state’s first case of red crown rot has been confirmed, adding a new soybean disease for growers and agronomists to watch during field scouting.

Rebecca Vittetoe said the soybean disease was identified in a field in Des Moines County in late August.

“If we look towards the base of the plant, if it’s red crown rot, we’re gonna see more of a red discoloration at the base of that soybean plant, whereas we won’t see that red discoloration with sudden death syndrome,” she said.

Vittetoe told Brownfield that red crown rot continues to be found in soybean fields across the Midwest and has been known to cause yield losses of 40% to 60%.

“Our neighboring states have seen red crown rot the last couple of years, so I’m guessing that that’s not the only field with it,” she said. “We’re encouraging people to go out and look.”

She said seed treatments and crop rotations are the recommended management strategies for the disease, which makes early identification important as growers finish the season and evaluate next year’s plans.

The Iowa Soybean Association is offering free testing of suspected red crown rot samples. Learn more HERE.

AUDIO: Rebecca Vittetoe – Iowa State University Extension