While shattering is common, the damage extends beyond open pods. Farmers also report easily peeled seed hulls and cracks in pod walls. Additionally, plants retained green stems and leaves long after pods reached harvest maturity.
Multiple observations and reports suggest the issue appeared indiscriminate of cultivar, maturity group or seed brands.
Mature seeds exposed to standing water absorbed moisture and swelled. Since the seeds were undersized due to drought conditions, this swelling likely caused the hulls to rupture. Once damaged, the seeds became more vulnerable to rapid cycles of wetting and drying, leaving the cotyledons exposed to weather-related deterioration and opportunistic microorganisms.
Soybean seeds had symptoms and signs of purple seed stain, Diaporthe seed decay and dehydration along with additional symptoms. Further testing of the seed concluded that Fusarium, Cercospora and Diaporthe species were present in damaged seed samples.
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