Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome: Cultivar Reactions to Inoculation in a Controlled Environment and Host Range and Virulence of Causal Agent. J. MELGAR, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762. K. W. ROY, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762. Plant Dis. 78: 265-268. Accepted for publication 29 November 1993. Copyright 1994 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-78-0265.

Reactions of 27 soybean cultivars to inoculation with Fusarium solani form A, the cause of sudden death syndrome, were determined under growth chamber conditions. Significant differences in susceptibility occurred among the cultivars. Selected comparisons between cultivar reactions in the growth chamber and in the field indicated close correspondence, but some inconsistencies occurred. Of 21 nonwounded and wounded plant species inoculated in a host range test, the only nonwounded species developing symptoms were soybean and mung bean; green bean, lima bean, and cowpea became infected only after wound inoculation. In virulence tests, some of the 31 isolates tested differed; but most, 24, were equally virulent. Virulence was not related to substrate or geographic origin.