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Powdery mildew on soybean

green leaf with white powdery spots attached to plant stem.

Powdery mildew occurs sporadically on soybeans, typically late in the season during periods of cool temperatures. The disease rarely appears to rarely cause yield loss, but it can potentially cause defoliation and reduced yields in susceptible varieties. Powdery mildew is differentiated from other foliar diseases by the white, powdery coating on infected leaves that looks similar to white flour sprinkled unevenly on the leaf surfaces.

Symptoms

All aerial plant parts can be infected by powdery mildew, although symptoms are most easily seen on the upper surfaces of leaves. Infected leaves have white to light grey, powdery patches. These patches may enlarge and cover the surfaces of many leaves throughout a plant, however, infected leaves tend to be most common on the lower and middle leaves. Powdery mildew symptoms may vary among cultivars. Leaves on susceptible varieties may turn yellow, then brown, and fall from the plant.

Conditions and timing that favor disease

single green leaf mainly covered with a white powdery substance (mildew).

Plants are most susceptible during the mid to late reproductive stages. Cool weather late in the growing season is most favorable for disease development. Rainfall is not known to increase the disease.

Causal pathogen

Powdery mildew is caused by the fungus Microsphaera diffusa. Other hosts of this fungus include common bean, pea, and cowpea.

Disease management

Use varieties that are have low susceptibility to powdery mildew. Foliar fungicides can help to manage this disease, but are not usually recommended because powdery mildew rarely appears to causes yield loss. 

several green leaves with holes and mainly covered with a white powdery substance (mildew).
many green leaves with small to large patches of light gray mildew on them.

Dean Malvick, Extension pathologist 

Reviewed in 2018

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