Free red crown rot testing available for Illinois soybean growers
Published 10:18 am Thursday, August 6, 2026
BLOOMINGTON — Illinois soybean farmers can now have suspected cases of red crown rot tested for free, through a partnership between the United Soybean Board, the Illinois Soybean Checkoff, and the University of Illinois.
Farmers who suspect the disease is present in their fields are being encouraged to send diseased plant samples to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic in Urbana for confirmation.
Red crown rot is a soilborne fungal disease that has emerged in soybean fields across Illinois and the broader Midwest in recent years. Because its above-ground symptoms closely resemble those of sudden death syndrome and other common soybean diseases, it can go unnoticed or be misdiagnosed without lab testing. Researchers say the fungus can persist in soil for years and, under favorable conditions, has the potential to cause substantial yield loss, making accurate diagnosis an important first step in managing the disease.
Growers can find instructions for submitting samples, including a downloadable submission form with sampling tips and shipping information, through FieldAdvisor.org’s red crown rot testing page. Samples can also be dropped off in person at the University of Illinois Plant Clinic, S-417 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., in Urbana. Growers with questions about submitting samples can contact Dr. Esneider Mahecha Bojaca at the Plant Clinic or Dr. Boris Camiletti, an assistant professor in the university’s Department of Crop Sciences.
Results are typically available within about a week, depending on the volume of submissions being processed. Researchers are encouraging growers to continue submitting samples over time to help build a more complete dataset on the disease’s spread and support future management research.
“Previous studies have found that the red crown rot pathogen can remain in the soil for at least seven years, meaning RCR can affect soybean yields now and for several years afterward,” Camiletti said. “RCR can spread quickly within fields, so early detection and timely management are important for limiting further spread.”
Additional red crown rot research supported by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff is available through FieldAdvisor.org and the Crop Protection Network’s website.
