During the 2023 soybean growing season in South Dakota, wilting symptoms and blighted leaves were observed in soybean plants, prompting the collection of symptomatic samples for pathogen identification.
Researchers used a method involving surface sterilization and incubation on wet filter paper, leading to fungal growth and isolation of a pathogen identified as Fusarium luffae with high genetic similarity to known strains.
The pathogenicity of the isolated fungus was assessed through spray inoculations on soybean leaves and plants, indicating its potential impact on soybean crops.