Effect of Benomyl Applications on Soybean Seedborne Fungi, Seed Germination, and Yield. D. M. TeKrony, Professor, Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0091. D. B. Egli, Professor, Department of Agronomy, R. E. Stuckey, Extension Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, and T. M. Loeffler, Former Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0091. Plant Dis. 69:763-765. Accepted for publication 3 April 1985. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-763.

The effect of benomyl treatments during reproductive growth of soybeans (Glycine max) on fungal seed infection was evaluated in the field for 2 yr. Trends for improved seed germination and lower levels of seed infection by Phomopsis sp. and Cercospora kikuchii occurred for all benomyl treatments except the single application (1.12 kg/ha) near the R7 growth stage (first yellow pod). The greatest improvement in seed germination occurred with the single application (1.12 kg/ha) of benomyl at growth stage R6 (green pod, full seed). This treatment also had significantly lower seed infection by Phomopsis sp. for seven of nine planting dates in three experiments across 2 yr. There was little yield response to benomyl treatments except for a significant increase occurring in one (June 1978) of the nine planting dates after the split application (0.56 kg/ha at growth stages R4 and R6).

Keyword(s): Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae.