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Pod Protection Effects on Soybean Seed Germination and Infection with Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae and other Microorganisms. K. L. Athow, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907; F. A. Laviolette, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907. Phytopathology 63:1021-1023. Accepted for publication 20 February 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-1021.

Soybean seed was harvested when mature and 6 weeks after maturity from nonprotected pods and pods protected from 5 weeks before maturity until 6 weeks after maturity to compare germination and infection with Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae and other microorganisms. Protection prior to ripening did not affect germination or infection. Protecting pods for 6 weeks after maturity significantly increased germination and reduced infection with D. phaseolorum var. sojae, Alternaria spp., and miscellaneous microorganisms. The data do not clearly indicate the time of greatest infection with D. phaseolorum var. sojae, but infection with Alternaria and miscellaneous microorganisms progressively increased when protection was delayed 2 or more weeks after maturity. Pod protection or time of harvest did not influence infection with Cercospora kikuchii. Stem inoculation with D. phaseolorum var. sojae did not increase seed infection.