- Leaf droop is a response that may occur in dicamba-tolerant soybeans.
- Injury is temporary and not likely to happen unless soybeans are under stress.
June is the month when many of our postemergence herbicides applications are being sprayed in soybeans. This year is no different; many applications have already been made, with more occurring this week. As we start applying XtendiMax™, Engenia™, and FeXapan™ to our dicamba-tolerant soybeans, we need to be aware of a soybean response that could occur.
If dicamba-tolerant soybeans have been under stress prior to an application of the new dicamba formulations, the soybeans may respond by what is known as “leaf droop.” Leaf droop is essentially a loss of turgidity in the soybean. This is a temporary response that may resolve itself in a few hours or a few days. This response will not happen in most applications, but it was observed in pre-launch research on this new dicamba-tolerant soybean system. The key point to remember is that this is a cosmetic issue that should have no lasting influence on plant growth or yield. While few have heard of the potential for leaf droop, the XtendiMax™ label informs the applicator about this possibility. An excerpt from the label reads,
“Applications of this product postemergence may cause temporary loss of turgor, a response commonly described as leaf droop in Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® Soybeans. Typically, affected plants recover in 1-3 days depending on the level of droop and environmental conditions.”
So while this response will not be present in all dicamba-tolerant soybean fields, don’t be alarmed if this is found in a few fields. Take comfort in knowing that this is a normal, temporary response.
Image 1. Leaf droop 5 hours after dicamba application indicamba-tolerant soybeans. Photo credit: New Century FS
Image 2. Close up of leaf droop. Photo credit: New Century FS
Image 3. Leaf droop recovery 20 hours after application.Photo credit: New Century FS