Effect of soybean vein necrosis on yield and seed quality of soybean

Soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV) rapidly became a widespread virus of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in the USA and Canada within a few years of its initial detection in 2008; however, the economic impact of soybean vein necrosis (SVN) symptoms caused by virus infection remains unknown. Field studies were conducted in six states in the USA during 2013, 2014 and 2015 to determine the effect of SVN on soybean yield and seed quality. Quantitative parameters, including seeds per pod, pods per plant, yield and 100-count seed weight, were assessed from plants or seeds collected from research and commercial production fields. Qualitative parameters, including protein and oil concentration, were also obtained from samples collected in Indiana and Iowa. Results from all states suggest that yield is not impacted by SVN; however, seed quality was affected in four of seven location-years. In Iowa, oil concentration decreased by 0.11% as disease incidence increased by 1% (P = 0.04). In Indiana, SVNV infected plants exhibited decreased total oil content compared with asymptomatic plants (0.16% (P = 0.04); 0.67% (P > 0.01) in 2014 and 2015, respectively. These results suggest that SVN may change soybean seed quality, which may affect the marketability of soybeans for premium markets, specifically those interested in high oleic soybeans.