Sudden death syndrome (SDS) caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines has become one of the most important diseases in soybean due to significant yield losses and limitations for control. Control has been possible by means of genetic resistance. This work aimed to identify efficient methods of inoculation to assess the soybean genotypes genetically resistant to SDS. Two experiments were arranged in a randomized block design (RBD). The former consisted of six treatments and 12 replicates, and the latter of six treatments and 16 replicates. Each plot contained a pot with one plant of the cultivar FT Estrela, highly susceptible to SDS, and another plant of the moderately resistant cultivar Conquista. The plants were assessed in relation to incidence and severity of SDS, every three days, for fifteen days, starting from the fifteenth day of emergence. From the data obtained, the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was estimated for the treatments. Inoculations with grains of sorghum and corn were the most effective in causing the appearance of the disease in the first experiment. Inoculations with corn kernels were the most effective method in causing the disease in the second experiment. However, only inoculation with corn kernels permitted the separation between genotypes in relation to SDS resistance, according to Tukey test (P<0.05) in both experiments. Thus, inoculation with corn kernels can be recommended for assessing soybean genotype reactions to SDS under greenhouse conditions.
Glycine max; sudden death syndrome; red root rot
