Plant Health Initiative

Symptoms

Soybean field with signs of green stem syndrome. Photo credit: Glen Hartman.

The main diagnostic feature of green stem disorder is the presence of mature pods and seeds on moist, immature stems. This feature distinguishes green stem disorder from general delayed maturity and other reasons for plants remaining green at harvest time.

Sometimes leaves or petioles may remain attached to plants with green stem disorder symptoms. The number of pods and seeds are not affected by the disorder. Only normal maturation of stem tissue appears to be affected.

Plants affected with the disorder may be scattered or occur in patches or even large areas in the field.