b'Tylka says SCN is widespread and is estimated to reduce soy-bean yields in North America by $1.5 billion annually.All soybean-producing areas of the U.S. and Canada are prone to have SCN. New fields and counties are found to be infested with SCN every year, he says. On a field scale, the yields of soybean varieties with ineffective but extremely common SCN resistance genes from a breeding line called PI88788 can be 22 bushels per acre less than yields of soybean varieties developed with the uncommon, but effective SCN resistance breeding line called Peking. At $9 beans, 22 bu/ac is a $200 per acre yield loss and with $17 soybeans, its $374 per acre yield loss. This is staggering!Unfortunately for growers, there typically isnt any visible, above ground damage due to SCN says Jeremiah Mullock, prod-uct manager of seed treatment at BASFs Triangle Park, North Carolina, one of largest chemical producers in the world.Despite being a large contributor to yield loss, there are often no above-ground symptoms to SCN, he says. The main protection against SCN has relied on native traits. However, the nematode is becoming resistant to a main resistance source (PI88788) leading to additional yield loss and increased nema-tode populations. BASF sponsored a seed treatment trial targeting SCNILEVO and a base seed treatment proved to be effective at combatting SCN. Seven Decade History PHOTO: BASFWhile SCN is a pest that is not native to the main soybean grow-ing area in the central part of the U.S., it was brought here in theprovides excellent protection to the soybean plant against SCN. mid-1950s from seeds outside the country and has been a yield- This product provides the soybean plant with protection by acti-robbing pest ever since. vating the plants natural defenses as soon as the seed germi-SCN was first detected in 1954 in North Carolina and hasnates, thereby providing crucial early protection. since been moving northwards up to Canada, says Jeff Kaiser,The two modes of action within Trunemco allow for early seed treatment technical services manager at Nufarm. The com- protection without slowing the plant metabolism, supporting vig-panyestablished in Australia more than 100 years agois aorous early growth. And, secondly, Trunemco colonizes around leading global manufacturer and supplier of crop protection andthe newly formed soybean root for continued protection against seed treatment. soybean cyst nematode, explains Kaiser.Current defense options within the soybean plantwhichThis materials patent was approved with the EPA in 2019. include the PI88788 and Peking genewere some of the earlyTrunemcos low-use rate aids in its ease of use when added to defense mechanisms available in soybean varieties. These traitscurrent soybean seed treatment blends. The Trunemco label provided acceptable levels of protection in soybean produc- states a caution signal word that makes it fit into a user-friendly tion when the targeted APH for soybeans was in the 50-bushelplatform when handling.range. Today the traits available are not enough protection forAt BASF, Mullock says the ILEVO seed treatment his com-the soybean seed in todays yield environment.pany offers provides protection to the roots against SCN to Kaiser adds that early awareness programs in 2010 haveinhibit egg hatch, kill juvenile SCN, and decrease reproduction.increased awareness in areas of soybean production impactedILEVO delivers 2-4 bu/A yield increase above a base fun-by SCN pressures. Also, seed treatment products that are bio- gicide and insecticide seed treatment on a variety containing logical in type have entered the market and exited the marketPI88788 native resistance.due to poor consistency in performance and treating challenges.In addition to this, some encouraging news was announced Currently, there is also a chemistry-based product that pro- in late June by BASF, Corteva Agriscience and MS Technologies. tects the soybean crop that has some crop tolerance concernsThe three companies have entered into a mutually beneficial in cool conditions and when used in combination with a class oftrait licensing agreement to develop next-generation Enlist E3 pre-emerge herbicides for soybeans. soybeans with the nematode resistant soybean (NRS) trait for farmers in the U.S. and Canada.What Will Help?In a recent press release, it was announced that Corteva and While this is a tough problem, there are treatments that areMS Technologies have licensed the Enlist E3 soybean trait to proving to be very helpful. For example, Nufarm releasedBASF for development with the NRS trait in BASF germplasm. Trunemco, a nematode management seed treatment thatBASF has licensed its NRS trait to Corteva and MS Technologies 12/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2022'