Effect of Date of Planting, Genotype and Source of Seed on Disease Incidence, Yield, and Agronomic Performance of Soybean

Four soybean genotypes chosen from four seed sources were planted in a factorial arrangement on four dates in a split-plot design at the Alabama A & M Experimental Station on a Decatur silt clay loam soil. The highest vigor index was recorded from seeds harvested from the 4th date of planting. These seeds had the lowest level of Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora infection, indicating that vigor index, as a measurement of seed quality, was negatively correlated with the level of infection by soybean stem canker pathogen. Seed yield was highest at the 2nd date of planting and lowest at the 4th date of planting. Tracy-M and Bedford confirmed previous reports on their resistance and susceptibility, respectively, to soybean stem canker. All the genotypes performed their best at the 2nd date of planting. Source of seeds appeared to have little effect on the performance of the plant in the field.