2020
Should There Be a Different Corn Earworm Threshold for Determinate and Indeterminate Soybean Varieties?
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Biotic stressCrop protectionField management Pest
Parent Project:
Should There Be a Different Corn Earworm Threshold for Determinate and Indeterminate Soybean Varieties?
Lead Principal Investigator:
Dominic Reisig, North Carolina State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
19-122
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
$54,000
Institution Funded:
North Carolina State University
$54,000
Brief Project Summary:

Indeterminate soybean varieties are being increasingly produced across North Carolina. Corn earworm is almost always the most economically damaging insect for soybeans in North Carolina. The thresholds developed for managing this pest were developed with determinate soybean varieties, and previous work across the U.S. indicates that corn earworm management thresholds may vary between determinate and indeterminate varieties. This research seeks to determine if corn earworm thresholds should be adjusted for the indeterminate soybean varieties now being produced more widely across the state. The work provides foundational management information for corn earworm in indeterminate soybean varieties and will be part of comprehensive management recommendations targeting indeterminate soybean varieties.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents

Information And Results
Final Project Results

More soybean producers are planting indeterminate soybean varieties in North Carolina. The majority of these are planted early (prior to mid-May) and are at less of a risk for corn earworm infestation than later planting dates; however, it is possible that some of these indeterminate soybean varieties will be planted in the window where they are at risk for corn earworm infestation. Since our current threshold is based on work done with determinate soybean varieties, it’s possible that we might need a new or modified threshold for indeterminate soybean varieties. Based on two years of findings, we have not found evidence to change the threshold for corn earworm in indeterminate varieties. Additional experiments in 2021 and 2022 will hopefully bolster this finding.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.