Evaluating the Presence of Dectes Stem Borer in Soybean Fields, Weeds and Assessing the Tolerance of Cultivars in Kentucky

In 2017 and 2018, the soybean stem borer (Dectes texanus) was observed infesting commercial soybean fields and experimental plots in Kentucky. Although there are publications reporting no effect of this pest on soybean yields, farmers in KY noticed yield reductions. In, one case, a farmer in McLean Co. said that the younger pods had unfilled beans, another in Hickman Co. noticed the difference of yields in two soybean cultivars. In the first case soybean plants were >50% infested by Dectes, in the second case yields were reduced >15 bu./A. This proposal will study infestations in commercial fields, detect additional host plants (weeds surrounding commercial fields), conduct a cooperative work with Dr, Claire Venard investigating the tolerance of soybean varieties to Dectes, and conduct a small plot and commercial field study with the two identified soybean varieties (mentioned above) that had significant yield differences.