Soybean disease loss estimates for the top ten soybean-producing countriesin 1998

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) disease loss estimates were compiled for t he 1998 harvested crop from the top 10 soybean-producing countries in the w orld. These 10 countries (United States, Brazil, China, Argentina, India, C anada, Paraguay, Indonesia, Italy, and Bolivia) produced 97.6% of the world 's total soybean crop in 1998 Total yield losses caused by soybean cyst [He terodera glycines Ichinohe] in these 10 countries were greater than those c aused by any other disease. Next in decreasing order of total yield reducti on were brown spot [Septoria glycines (Hemmi)], charcoal rot [Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goidanich], and sclerotinia stem rot [Sclerotinia sclero tiorum (Lib.) de Bary]. The total yield loss due to diseases in these count ries in 1998 was 28.5 x 10(6) t, valued at U.S. $6.29 x 10(9) Yield losses due to specific diseases varied by country. For example, yield losses due t o rust were reported only from China and Indonesia. Soybean disease control s are needed to provide more effective preventive and therapeutic disease m anagement strategies and systems to producers.