MACRONUTRIENT UPTAKE, TRANSLOCATION, AND TISSUE CONCENTRATION OF SOYBEANS INFESTED WITH THE SOYBEAN CYST-NEMATODE AND ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF CYSTS ISOLATED FROM ROOTS

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is a major pest of soybeans (Glycine max L. Merrill) in the central and southern United States. Soybean cyst nematode causes stunted top growth, root pruning and symptoms of mineral element deficiency in soybeans. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two selections of SCN (I selected on PI209332 and IV selected on PI 89772) on macronutrient uptake, translocation, and tissue concentrations of soybean and to determine the elemental composition of cysts isolated from roots. Soybeans were grown in plastic tubes in the greenhouse where the middle one-third of the Hedge fine sand (Typic Udipsamment) contained 0, 25,000, or 50,000 SCN eggs. After 35 days, plants were harvested and tissue nutrient element concentrations were determined. Plants infested with both SCN selections were smaller and had much less root volume than controls. Dry weight of each plant tissue decreased as SCN population was increased. Root concentration of potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) was decreased, whereas root calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) concentrations were increased with SCN treatments. Leaf Mg and Ca concentrations increased with SCN treatment. Magnesium uptake per unit root volume was decreased, but Mg translocation (% of total plant content in aerial portion) was increased with SCN treatment. Calcium uptake per unit of root volume was increased, but translocation was unchanged by SCN treatment. The Ca and P concentration of cysts isolated from the soybean roots was high. This high concentration of Ca in cysts is interesting based on the greater root Ca concentration and uptake per unit of root volume in SCN infested plants. Since total uptake and root concentrations of both K and Mg were decreased by SCN treatment, infested soybeans might require very high levels of K and Mg fertilization. These results indicate that K and Mg fertility should be followed closely in SCM-infested soybean fields.