Bean Pod Mottle of Soybean
Published: 03/19/2019
Foliar symptoms caused by Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) include distorted and wrinkled leaves that have a mottled color pattern. Symptoms appear more severe on young leaves, sometimes with a raised, blistered, or distorted appearance. Infection by BPMV decreases pod formation, reduces seed size, weight and number, and may cause seed mottling. Mottling is associated with poor germination and may result in a grain grade reduction, particularly for food grade soybeans.
BPMV is transmitted primarily by the bean leaf beetle. Foliar symptoms are most obvious at cooler temperatures and often disappear when it is hot.
Soybean varieties differ in BPMV tolerance, although the differences are not clearly studied. Consider planting insecticide-treated seed if overwintering survival of bean leaf beetles is predicted, or if bean pod mottle has been confirmed in fields previously and bean leaf beetles have been present. Foliar-applied insecticides can manage bean leaf beetle populations and may reduce bean pod mottle.
Foliar symptoms of bean pod mottle.
Image: A. Robertson
Soybean leaves infected by the Bean pod mottle virus.
Image: C. Grau
Bean leaf beetles transmit the virus that causes bean pod mottle.
Soybean leaves infected by the Bean pod mottle virus.
Bean pod mottle may cause seed mottling.
Foliar symptoms of bean pod mottle.
Soybean plants with bean pod mottle.
Bean pod mottle causes distorted and wrinkled leaves with a mottled color pattern.
Bean pod mottle causes distorted and wrinkled leaves with a mottled color pattern.
Soybean pod mottling symptomatic of bean pod mottle.
Gallery Images: A. Robertson, K. Jensen, A. Sisson, and C. Grau
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