Cody Hoerning, Senyu Chen, Katherine Frels, Donald Wyse, Samantha Wells, James Anderson
Midwest crop production is dominated by two summer annual crops grown in rotation, viz., corn ( L.) and soybean ( L.). Winter oilseed crops, such as pennycress ( L.), can provide ecosystem and economic benefits when added to the corn-soybean rotation. However, adding a new crop adds risks, such as increased pest pressure. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate population development of three soybean cyst nematode (SCN; ) biotypes on three pennycress genotypes and susceptible soybean and (ii) determine whether SCN inoculation level influenced plant biomass. SCN population density and biomass were determined after 60 d in the greenhouse. At the inoculation level of 2,000 eggs/100 cm soil, the average egg density for the three pennycress genotypes was 1,959 eggs/100 cm soil, lower than that for the susceptible soybean 'Sturdy' (9,601 eggs/100 cm soil). At the inoculation level of 20,000 eggs/100 cm soil, the average egg density for the three pennycress genotypes was 6,668 eggs/100 cm soil, lower than that for 'Sturdy' (40,740 eggs/100 cm soil). The inoculation level did not affect plant biomass. pennycress is an alternative host to SCN under greenhouse conditions but is a less suitable host than soybean.
