Recent Outbreak of Soybean Stem Canker Caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora in the Main Soybean-Producing Region of Argentina

The first report of soybean stem canker (SSC) caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora in South America was published in 2001, and was based on an isolate obtained in 1999 at Oliveros, Santa Fe (32°33′S, 60°51′W), Argentina (2). During the 2001 to 2002 growing season, isolates of D. phaseolorum var. caulivora were obtained from stems of field-grown soybeans (Glycine max L.) exhibiting SSC symptoms. Isolates were collected in three localities of the main soybean-producing region of Argentina: Marcos Juárez, Córdoba (32°66′S, 62°10′W); Salto, Buenos Aires (34°20′S, 60°33′W); and Diego de Alvear, Santa Fe (34°21′S, 62°10′W), and disease incidence in the fields was 10 to 60%, 5 to 15%, and 10 to 20%, respectively. The pathogen was isolated on potato glucose agar acidified with 0.2% lactic acid cultured in the dark at 25 ± 1°C. White colonies with compact and tufted mycelium were produced and turned yellow and light tan after 6 days. Appressed and fluffy mycelia were observed in old cultures. Stromata (2 mm diameter) were produced but pycnidia were not detected. After 20 days in culture at 25 ± 1°C under a 12-h light and 12-h dark regime, clustered perithecia developed on stem segments. For each isolate, 10 perithecia, 90 asci, and 30 bicellular, biguttulate ascospores were measured. Averages of asci length and width were 28.3 ± 2.3 and 5.9 ± 0.7 μm, respectively. Averages of ascospores mean length and width were 8.4 ± 0.6 and 2.5 ± 0.4 μm, respectively. These measures were similar to the measures obtained previously (2). Based on these features, the new isolates were classified as D. phaseolorum var. caulivora (Athow & Caldwell). Clustered perithecia, smaller asci and ascospores, and the development of fluffy mycelia with age were the main characteristics that distinguished D. phaseolorum var. caulivora from D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis (1). Pathogenicity trials were performed on cvs. Tracy M, Crockett, Hutchenson, and RA 702 in the greenhouse by placing a small amount of mycelium in soybean seedling hypocotyls wounds made with a scalpel. The pathogen was reisolated from stem portions of the symptomatic plants. Control plants remained healthy. The results reported here show that D. phaseolorum var. caulivora is widely disseminated in the main soybean-producing region of Argentina, where it coexists with D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis (2). The coexistence of both varieties indicates pathogen variability in the region is higher than previously recognized. References: (1) R. N. Pioli et al. Plant Dis. 83:1071, 1999. (2) R. N. Pioli et al. Plant Dis. 85:95, 2001.