Development and validation of methods to assess red crown rot (Calonectria ilicicola) severity in soybean: standard area diagram set for roots and diagrammatic scale for canopy

Abstract

Red crown rot of soybean (RCR), caused by Calonectria ilicicola, is an emerging soilborne disease whose quantification is challenging due to its complex symptom development across root and foliage levels. This study developed and evaluated a multi-scale framework to improve the assessment of RCR severity from controlled environments to field conditions using root imaging and standardized visual scales. Under controlled conditions, a standard area diagram (SAD) for root necrosis was developed and validated, and SAD-assisted evaluations significantly improved accuracy, precision, and inter-rater agreement compared with unaided assessments. In field conditions, a diagrammatic symptom scale (DSS) was developed using consensus-rated images from experts and showed high reliability, repeatability, and reproducibility across 18 raters, with strong intra- and inter-rater agreement. This study developed and evaluated complementary methods to improve the assessment of RCR severity from controlled environments to field conditions using root imaging and standardized visual scales.

Plant phenotyping relevance

根の壊死と地上部症状という植物病害状態の定量評価法を開発・検証しており、画像化と標準視覚尺度が研究の中心であるため。

Code and data availability

The article describes development of a root SAD and canopy diagrammatic scale but contains no data availability statement, no public dataset/image deposit, and no author code repository. The only URL mentioned (SADBank) is cited as an existing external SAD library, not a deposit of this paper's assets.

No evidence-backed public reproduction asset is currently recorded.