Twin-Stem Abnormality Disease of Soybean Seedlings Caused by Sclerotium Sp.. Onkar D. Dhingra, Professor, Departamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. James J. Muchovej, Professor, Departamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Plant Dis. 64:176-178. Accepted for publication 17 September 1979. Copyright 1980 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-64-176.

A growth abnormality disease incited in soybean seedlings by a Sclerotium sp. has three distinct severity forms. The internally seedborne pathogen cannot be isolated from seed placed on potato-dextrose agar or moist blotting paper. Infected seeds in a seed lot can be detected by planting the seeds in sterilized sand and observing the seedlings for symptoms, which appear only after the cotyledons have opened. Seed treatment with fungicides is ineffective.