Key Takeaways
- CeraMax®, a biological seed treatment by Ceradis Crop Protection B.V., will be available in 2025 under a Section 2(ee) label for disease suppression.
- Red Crown Rot (RCR), caused by the fungus Calonectria ilicicola, is an emerging disease in Midwest soybean fields.
- The disease can cause yield losses ranging from 10% to 80% in severely affected areas.
- Red Crown Rot is often misdiagnosed as Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), requiring careful identification.
- Preventative measures, including crop rotation and seed treatment, are essential for management.
Red Crown Rot: An Emerging Challenge for Soybean Growers
Soybean growers in the Midwest are facing a rising threat from Red Crown Rot (RCR), a yield-reducing disease with no effective in-season treatment. The fungus Calonectria ilicicola infects soybean seedlings within the first three weeks of germination and spreads through infected soil and crop residue, leading to potential yield losses of 10% to 80% depending on environmental conditions.
Originally identified in U.S. peanut crops in the 1960s, Red Crown Rot first appeared in southern U.S. soybean fields in the 1970s and has since been detected in 11 soybean-producing states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio.
CeraMax Offers a Biological Solution
To address this growing challenge, CeraMax®, a biological seed treatment developed by Ceradis Crop Protection B.V., will be available in 2025 under a Section 2(ee) label for the suppression of Red Crown Rot in soybeans.
CeraMax will be applicable in the following states: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
“Red Crown Rot is emerging as a serious problem for soybean growers. Because no rescue treatments exist, proactive management is critical this season,” said Lon Kreger, North America Marketing and Sales Leader with Ceradis. “CeraMax provides a unique biological approach to the problem, offering growers an effective and proven tool to protect their crops before and after planting.”
How CeraMax Works
CeraMax contains Natamycin, a biological molecule produced by soil bacteria that prevents soil-borne fungal diseases from attacking plant roots. It enhances soybean resistance by:
- Activating defensive pathways before fungal infection occurs.
- Strengthening the plant’s natural ability to combat disease.
“Growers need to be vigilant because Red Crown Rot is not a disease that can be eliminated once it establishes in a field,” Kreger emphasized. “With no in-season foliar solutions available to reverse plant damage or yield loss, the best defense is a seed treatment like CeraMax.”
Identifying Red Crown Rot vs. Sudden Death Syndrome
One of the key challenges in managing Red Crown Rot is its frequent misdiagnosis as Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS).
Bob Joehl, Seed Protection Specialist for Direct Enterprises Inc., advises growers to closely inspect plant symptoms:
- Red Crown Rot thrives in warm soils, while Sudden Death Syndrome prefers cooler, wet soil conditions.
- Both diseases exhibit similar foliar symptoms, but RCR presents red discoloration at the base of the stem, while SDS shows a gray vascular bundle inside the stem with a white inner core.
Risk Prevention Strategies
With the expected increase in Red Crown Rot cases, growers should implement strict disease management strategies:
- Crop rotation to reduce fungal buildup in soil.
- Strategic planting to avoid high-risk conditions.
- Using a proven seed treatment like CeraMax to provide early-stage protection.
Since its introduction in 2019, CeraMax has consistently provided effective protection against Sudden Death Syndrome and is now recognized for its role in suppressing Red Crown Rot under the Section 2(ee) label.
“For growers who have already been impacted by Red Crown Rot or Sudden Death Syndrome, as well as those concerned about potential spread, CeraMax is a leading biological solution for safeguarding their soybeans,” said Kreger.
