Application of Path Analysis in Soybean Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum Prevalence

The occurrence and development of soybean Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is closely related with meteorological factors in soybean growth stage.In this research,the major influenced meteorological factor in soybean Sclerotinia sclerotiorum occurrence were ascertained through regression and path analysis based on disease indexes of nine soybean major production locations in Heilongjiang province and meteorological factors including average rainfall,sunshine hours and temperature from June to August.Disease index of soybean Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was most affected by the average precipitation in August among all tested meteorological factors.Mean sunshine hours in July combined with average temperature of August severely influenced disease index of soybean Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.The direct or indirect path indexes of other factors were too low to affect disease occurrence.Soybean Sclerotinia sclerotiorum would outbreak under the circumstances of less sunshine hours in July,more rainfall and appropriate temperature in August.