SCN - Start. Counting. Now.

Hopefully you recognize the acronym SCN as shorthand for soybean cyst nematodes. This time of year SCN carries a double precision meaning start counting now for soybean cyst nematodes. Harvest time is the best time to collect soil samples for SCN counts. 

Soybean cyst nematodes overwinter as eggs protected within the remains of deceased females, also known as cysts. Juvenile nematodes hatch from eggs in the spring as soil temperature and moisture reach favorable levels. As the juveniles mature, they enter soybean roots. Juveniles that develop into males return to the soil while juveniles that develop into females establish a feeding site, sucking valuable nutrients away from the soybean plant to feed the nematode as she progresses to adulthood. Eventually, it is the mature female that becomes visible on the soybean root.

Depending on growing season length, SCN may complete up to six generations per year with as many as 250 to 400 eggs per cyst. Though they need a host to reproduce, in the absence of a suitable host, eggs may remain for years protected by the cyst.

To date, SCN populations have been identified in 59 of Kansas’s 105 counties. According to K-State Nematologist Timothy Todd, these 59 counties represent more than 85% of the soybeans produced in the state! 

Severe SCN infestations can lead to stunting and yellowing of soybeans; however, these visuals can be easily mistaken for symptoms of compaction, nutrient deficiency, moisture stress, or herbicide injury. Even in fields without visible plant symptoms, yield losses up to 40% may occur.

Known for its outstanding performance on sudden death syndrome in soybeans, ILEVO seed treatment is also a broad-spectrum nematicide that effectively control many nematode species, including SCN, regardless of nematode life stage. ILEVO seed treatment can even be used with SCN-resistant varieties, adding another level of plant and yield protection by killing nematodes. 

Start. Counting. Now. For more information on SCN biology, how to test your fields for SCN, and additional management strategies visit: https://www.thescncoalition.com/.