Response of soybean cyst nematodes and soybeans (Glycine max) to herbicides

Abstract

The effect of herbicides applied to V3 soybeans on race 3 soybean cyst nematode (SCN) reproduction and glyceollin production in roots was measured. Soybeans were treated postemergence with 1 × and 2 × rates of herbicides plus adjuvants or with adjuvants alone, and SCN development was measured. Acifluorfen, bentazon, lactofen, crop oil concentrate (COC), and nonionic surfactant (NIS) applications reduced SCN egg population densities 50 to 60% compared with the untreated control 4 and 8 wk after application. The SCN reproduction on plants treated with fluazifop-P, sethoxydim, and imazethapyr was similar to the untreated control. Crop oil concentrate or NIS applications alone were as effective as acifluorfen, bentazon, or lactofen applications for reducing SCN reproduction. However, no additive effect of adjuvant-herbicide combinations was observed, nor did herbicide rate affect SCN reproduction. Treatments reduced SCN reproduction only when applied to soybeans and had no effect on SCN reproduction when applied directly to the soil. No treatment stimulated SCN reproduction relative to the untreated control. Soybeans treated with COC, NIS, acifluorfen, and bentazon also had more glyceollin detected than the untreated control. Herbicide-induced glyceollin production may have increased the resistance of soybean to SCN.