Sclerotinia Pathogen Management in Soybean Crops

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a pervasive necrotrophic fungus responsible for stem rot (white mould) in soybean, capable of inflicting yield losses exceeding 50 % under conducive conditions. The pathogen survives as sclerotia in soil and crop residues for multiple seasons, producing airborne ascospores from carpogenic germination that infect flowering soybeans. Effective management demands an integrated approach combining cultural practices (crop rotation, deep ploughing and residue removal), timely fungicide application guided by weather‐based forecasting, deployment of biological antagonists, and host resistance. Recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics have elucidated the complex genetic architecture of partial resistance, identified defence‐related pathways and enabled marker‐assisted selection. Understanding environmental triggers of sclerotial germination and critical infection windows has improved decision support systems, while exploration of microbial biocontrol agents and organic amendments offers sustainable alternatives to chemical control. Collectively, these efforts aim to reduce inoculum pressure, delay infection onset and enhance the durability of resistance in global soybean production systems.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have leveraged large‐scale association panels to dissect the genetic basis of Sclerotinia stem rot resistance across multiple environments. Genome‐wide and epistatic association analyses revealed dozens of main‐effect loci alongside epistatic interactions, implicating candidate genes involved in cell‐wall reinforcement, hormone signalling (salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene pathways) and sugar allocation. The identification of complex hormonal networks supports the dual necrotrophic–hemibiotrophic lifestyle of the pathogen and provides a suite of molecular markers for breeding programmes. Insights into interactions among loci emphasise the polygenic nature of resistance and guide the pyramiding of complementary alleles to achieve durable partial resistance in diverse agroecological zones.

Sclerotinia Pathogen Management in Soybean Crops publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sclerotinia pathogen management in soybean crops across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Genomic regions associated with variation in a quantitative trait such as disease resistance.

Genome‐Wide Association Study (GWAS): A statistical approach that scans the genome to identify genetic variants linked to specific traits across diverse germplasm.

Partial Resistance: A form of plant defence that reduces disease severity and slows pathogen development without conferring complete immunity.

Phenylpropanoid Pathway: A metabolic route producing secondary compounds (e.g. flavonoids, lignin precursors) that contribute to structural barriers and antimicrobial activity.

Sclerotia: Durable, melanised fungal structures that enable long‐term survival of S. sclerotiorum in soil and crop debris.

References

1. In-Vivo and In-Vitro Investigation of Germination Rate of Buried Sclerotia, and Variability in Carpogenic Germination Among Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Isolates. Agriculture (2024).
2. Biological control of the soil-borne fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum –– a review. Journal of Plant Pathology (2018).
3. Resistance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean involves a reprogramming of the phenylpropanoid pathway and up‐regulation of antifungal activity targeting ergosterol biosynthesis. Plant Biotechnology Journal (2019).
4. Main and epistatic loci studies in soybean for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum resistance reveal multiple modes of resistance in multi-environments. Scientific Reports (2017).