May. But early planting increases his concern of seedborne diseases. So Maloney uses disease-resistant varieties in combination with fungicide seed treatments. He also inoculates seed, gaining 2 to 3 bushels per acre. Maloney's desire to control disease is well-founded, notes Wayne Pedersen, University of Illinois plant pathologist. He's studying possible interactions of SCN, plant diseases and insects with herbicide injury.
Early results show that if one problem pops up, others follow or become worse.
In one study, Blazer, Pursuit, Roundup and Synchrony were applied to fields planted to Roundup Ready soybeans. If a high level of Rhizoctonia root rot was present, Blazer and Pursuit caused disease levels to rise. Roundup and Synchrony did not increase disease pressure. Injury symptoms appeared if the cyst population was 500 eggs or less per 100 cubic centimeters of soil. Yet the crop grew out of the damage within 12 to 15 days.