ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Pathogen Interactions
Epidemiology of Sclerotinia Stem Rot and Efficacy of Integrated Control Measures for Soybean in Northeast China
Provisionally accepted
- 1Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences ,Institute of Plant Protection, Harbin, China
- 2Institute of Plant Protection, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
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Background/Aims: Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is one of the most destructive fungal diseases affecting soybeans, and its effective management remains a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of SSR and to evaluate the efficacy of chemical fungicides, biocontrol agents (particularly low-risk, eco-friendly products), cultural practices, as well as to propose integrated strategies for SSR control in soybeans. Methods: Both small-scale and large-scale field trials were conducted in in Northeast China, the country’s largest soybean-producing region. The soybean varieties included Heinong 48, Kenfeng 16, Hefeng 50, Nongqingdou, Kendou 25, and Kendou 39. Results: The epidemiological study characterized the sclerotial germination dynamics and identified key factors influencing the disease severity index (DSI) and soybean yield. Assessment of low-risk, eco-friendly disease control products in small-scale field trials revealed that 6% oligosaccharins achieved the highest control efficacy of 70.0%. These findings informed the development of integrated control measures, which were then evaluated in scale-up field trials. Notably, these control measures significantly reduced disease incidence compared to control fields, demonstrating a disease control efficacy of 64.3–75.3%, alongside a yield increase of 5.7–14.7%. Subsequent implementation of the integrated measures achieved effective disease management, with a control efficacy of 56.41% and consistent yield improvements of 5.76–15.56%. Conclusions: Integrating disease-resistant variety selection, low-risk/eco-friendly chemical and biological agents, and cultural practices effectively manages SSR in soybean crops, significantly reducing DSI and increasing soybean yield in Northeast China. While these strategies may be applicable in other regions, optimal approaches may vary owing to regional differences and annual variations.
Keywords: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotinia stem rot, White mold, Soybean, Disease severity index, fungicides
Received: 05 Aug 2025; Accepted: 13 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li, Liu, Shi, Ma, Zhang, Yu and Meng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Qinglin Meng, mqlhlcn@126.com
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