Embrapa defines methodology for evaluating rot in soybean pods and grains

Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril (Sinop-MT) and Embrapa Soja (Londrina-PR) released a announcement aimed at technicians working in the soybean chain with the aim of standardizing a methodology for assessing pod and grain rot. The problem has been found in some crops in Mato Grosso.

The objective is to standardize assessment procedures, in order to obtain data from as many crops as possible, in different regions where the anomaly has been occurring, in a collaborative way.

A group made up of researchers from Embrapa, partner institutions and consultants has been studying the problem since the 2019/2020 harvest, when cases of pod and grain rot were reported for the first time. The greatest occurrence has been identified in the Middle-North region of Mato Grosso.

The methodology developed by Embrapa defines at which stage of the crop's development the samples should be collected, how the sampling should be done and how the pods and grains should be evaluated.

There is also the standardization of data to be collected in a spreadsheet, in order to obtain standardized information about cultivar, growth habit, sowing date, plant collection date and data on number of pods, healthy/rotten quantity, number of healthy and rotten grains, among others.

The methodology was sent to researchers and consultants who already work in partnership with Embrapa. Interested in contributing information, You can download the statement here with information on method standardization. Supporting documents were also made available, such as data collection spreadsheet template, Practical Guide on Identification of the Most Common Fungi in Soybean Seeds e indicative table of soybean phenological stages.

Announcement about the problem

The rotting of grains and pods in the final stage of formation in soybean crops has been observed more frequently in some Brazilian regions, since the 2019/2020 harvest, especially in the mid-north region of the state of Mato Grosso, causing a significant reduction productivity in crops with high productive potential, especially in the first sowings. 

Embrapa released a statement addressing the problem. Check out the full statement here or click here to download the pdf.