Diseases

From Rare to Relevant: Calonectria ilicicola and Its Growing Impact on Soybean Production in Illinois

  • September 25, 2025

  • Esneider Bojaca, Diane Plewa, Boris Camiletti

Introduction
Red crown rot (RCR) of soybean is a disease caused by the fungal pathogen Calonectria ilicicola. This pathogen was first identified on peanuts in the United States in 1965 [1]. Since then, C. ilicicola has been found to cause disease in a wide variety of hosts across the world. It was first confirmed on soybeans in 1968 in Japan [2] and subsequently identified on soybeans in the United States in 1972 [3] in North Carolina.…

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Southern Rust Confirmed Near Illinois: What You Need to Know

  • July 15, 2025

  • Todd Gleason, Boris X. Camiletti

Southern rust of corn, caused by the fungus Puccinia polysora, has recently been confirmed in counties of Indiana and Kentucky bordering southern Illinois. While not yet confirmed in Illinois this season, its proximity makes it important to stay alert, scout actively, and be prepared to manage the disease if it arrives.
Recognizing Southern Rust
Southern rust produces small, orange to light-brown pustules typically found on the upper surface of corn leaves, often concentrated in the upper canopy.…

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An Illinois Crop Progress Conversation

  • July 5, 2025

  • Todd Gleason

* Tools to Manage Tar Spot
* Illinois Soft Red Winter Wheat Harvest & Quality
* Corn and Soybean Update
* WILLAg Closing Market Report and Commodity Week

The Closing Market Report podcast player should open to the spot where the Illinois Field Crops discussion begins, or about six minutes into the program.
Tools to Manage Tar Spot
There is a new online tool farmers and retailers may use to help track,…

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Phytophthora Crown and Stem Rot in Soybean: A Recurrent Disease in Illinois

  • June 27, 2025

  • Diane Plewa, Esneider Mahecha

Soybean Phytophthora root, crown, and stem rot is one of the most significant diseases affecting soybean production worldwide. Multiple species of Phytophthora, a group of related soilborne pathogens, can infect soybean and cause primarily root rots while Phytophthora sojae causes root, crown, and stem rot, resulting in more severe symptoms and increased yield loss. In the state of Illinois, it ranks among the top yield-reducing diseases, following white mold and soybean cyst nematode (SCN).…

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2023 Illinois Crop Management Conference

  • January 24, 2023

  • Talon Becker

If you haven’t already, there is still time to register at the early bird rate for the Illinois Crop Management Conferences in Champaign and Sycamore.  We will also be offering an online option, as we have the past couple years, for those that prefer to view recorded presentations as their schedule allows.
CHAMPAIGN | FEB. 7
REGISTER HERE – https://go.illinois.edu/23CMC-Champaign
AGENDA – CLICK HERE
Registration on or before Jan. 31 is $80;…

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2021 Applied Research Report Now Available

  • February 2, 2022

  • Nick Seiter

Each year, we produce a report of our applied research efforts related to insect and disease management in field crops. New for this year, we’ve created a landing page at https://extension.illinois.edu/global/field-crop-insect-and-disease-applied-research, where you can view this year’s report along previous versions (2018-2020). The 2021 report includes several highlights, such as:

  • Western and northern corn rootworm Bt resistance monitoring, as well as trait performance in field experiments
  • New surveys of dectes stem borer stem tunneling and corn rootworm sticky traps,

…

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2020 Applied Research Results now available

  • January 27, 2021

  • Nick Seiter

Every year, University of Illinois entomologists and plant pathologists conduct a variety of field experiments to evaluate control methods, survey for invasive and established pests, and inform management decisions for plant diseases and insect pests. We publish the results of these experiments in an annual report, which is available to view or download for free at the following link: https://uofi.box.com/v/2020PestPathogenARB
Image of the 2020 Applied Research Results cover
In addition to control evaluations on a variety of pests, this years guide includes:

  • Surveys of red crown rot and corn nematodes
  • A (thankfully negative) survey for the potential invasive soybean gall midge,

…

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