Effect of Bean Pod Mottle Virus on Soybean Yield

Abstract

Field experiments to determine the effects of various infection levels and time of infection with bean pod mottle virus (BPMV)on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, yield and plant emergence from seed produced on infected plants were conducted (1981–1982). Yield decreased as BPMV infection levels increased in ‘Bragg’ variety soybean. There was a numerical reduction in yield as BPMV infection levels increased with ‘Lee 74’ variety soybean, but the differences were not statistically significant. The younger the soybean plant at time of BPMV infection, the greater the reduction in pods and yield for the ‘Lee 74’ variety. There was a numerical, but not statistically, significant reduction in yield for the ‘Bragg’ variety infected at earlier growth stages. The maximum yield reduction attained due to BPMV infection was 52.4% for ‘Bragg’ and 35.8% for ‘Lee 74’ variety soybeans. Emergence of plants from seed of BPMV-infected plants was not affected.