Determination of Resistance or Susceptibility of Soybean Genotypes to Soybean Cyst Nematode, Heterodera glycines, Race 3

Resistance and/or susceptibility of several soybean genotypes to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, race 3 was investigated. Three, 11, and 4 soybean genotypes were identified as resistant, moderately resistant, and susceptible, respectively. Resistant plants had fewer cysts on the roots and more root nodules, with the converse in susceptible plants. Reduction in yield of six extensively grown soybean cvs in Alabama was from 10 to 56% compared with the north Alabama average; resistant cv. ‘Bedford’ showed a yield loss of 10%. Cyst numbers were negatively correlated with nodule numbers and other agronomic characters. Nodules and other yield components were positively correlated except for non-correlation of nodules and number of pods with plant height in the 1980 experiment.