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Article originally posted on Syngenta's Know More, Grow More agronomy blog. 

(SDS) is one of the most destructive soybean diseases, affecting the majority of soybean-growing areas. SDS is often found in fields also infested with soybean cyst nematode (SCN), because SCN feeding causes root damage and creates gateways for this pathogen to infect the plant.

SDS is caused by the soil-dwelling fungus Fusarium virguliforme and flourishes in cool, moist conditions, putting early-planted soybeans at risk. Although early-planted soybean fields typically produce higher yields, the University of Nebraska advises growers to avoid early planting in fields with a history of severe SDS. Another way to reduce the chances of SDS infection is to avoid planting soybeans back to back, says the University of Missouri.