Fludioxonil+Mefenoxam seed treatment improves edamame seedling emergence

Authors: Williams, Martin; BRADLEY, CARL - University Of Kentucky

Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/6/2017
Publication Date: 12/1/2017
Citation: Williams II, M.M., Bradley, C.A. 2017. Fludioxonil+Mefenoxam seed treatment improves edamame seedling emergence. HortTechnology. 27:846-851.

Interpretive Summary: Field experiments showed that treating edamame seed for protection against certain soil pathogens improved crop emergence. Treated seed not only emerged more completely than untreated seed, but also emerged more quickly. The impact of this work is that it demonstrates a way to improve edamame emergence in production fields; one of several hurdles limiting domestic production of the crop.

Technical Abstract: Poor crop establishment is a major problem in edamame (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), a specialty type of soybean being produced in locations throughout the U.S. The objective of this research was to quantify the extent to which seed treatment with fludioxonil+mefenoxam improves seedling emergence of edamame. Emergence characteristics of fludioxonil+mefenoxam-treated and non-treated seed of 30 cultivars were characterized in field conditions over two years. Seed treatment with fludioxonil+mefenoxam improved crop emergence 5, 13, and 15% at one, two, and three weeks after planting, respectively. Emergence rate was improved the most by the seed treatment for several cultivars that were generally slow to emerge (e.g. >9 days to 50% emergence). Crop establishment is essential to further development of domestic edamame production. Seed treatment with fludioxonil+mefenoxam at 2.5 g + 3.75 g per 100 kg seed, respectively, offers one approach to help vegetable growers improve seedling emergence.