Potential for Soybean Cyst Nematode Reproduction on Winter Weeds and Cover Crops in Tennessee

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is a major yield limiting pest of soybean (Glycine max). Current SCN management strategies include resistant soybean varieties and rotation with non-host crops. Increased adoption of the early soybean production system (ESPS) combined with a greater incidence of winter weeds from no-tillage practices may increase the population density of SCN during the noncrop period since several winter weeds and cover crops are hosts for SCN. A field experiment with a split-strip design was conducted over three years to evaluate whether SCN reproduced on weeds and cover crops during the noncrop period. Winter weeds and crimson clover roots were examined for females and cysts with eggs. The soil was sampled to determine if an increase in SCN egg population density occurred. We found no indication of SCN reproduction on winter weeds during the noncrop period or on the cover crop crimson clover.