Content overview: “Red Crown Rot Surges in Midwest Soybeans: Expert Boris Camiletti Explains the Threat”. Red crown rot, a fungal disease first spotted in Illinois in 2018, is now spreading rapidly across the Midwest, raising alarms for soybean growers. Boris Camiletti, a plant pathologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is spearheading research to understand and manage the pathogen. His work, supported by the Crop Protection Network, Illinois Soybean Association, United Soybean Board, and neighboring state researchers, aims to protect a crop vital to the regional economy.
The disease, caused by the soilborne fungus Calonectria ilicicola, attacks soybean roots and crowns, leading to wilting, premature death, and significant yield losses. Its recent surge is linked to favorable wet conditions and possibly shifts in farming practices, though researchers are still pinpointing exact triggers. Early detection is difficult because symptoms often mimic other stresses, making management challenging. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.