Vol. 9, Special Issue 12, Part E (2025)

Yellow mosaic disease of soybean, caused by Soybean yellow mosaic virus (SYMV), is recognized as one of the most destructive viral diseases of soybean, severely reducing both yield and quality. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) holds immense economic significance in Maharashtra, and widespread occurrence of SYMV poses a major threat to its sustainable production. The present study was conducted to evaluate the current distribution and severity of yellow mosaic disease across the key soybean-growing agro-climatic zones of the Marathwada region. Extensive field surveys were carried out during the Kharif seasons of 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, covering farmer-managed fields under the Scarcity, Moderate Rainfall and Assured Rainfall zones. The results revealed that the disease is prevalent throughout the region, confirming the widespread presence of SYMV in soybean cultivation areas. A seasonal comparison showed that the disease severity was distinctly higher in Kharif 2023-2024 than in Kharif 2024-2025, demonstrating seasonal variation in viral infection and environmental influence. Among the agro-climatic zones surveyed, the highest disease incidence was recorded in the Moderate Rainfall zone (35.43%), followed by the Assured Rainfall zone (34.33%), while the lowest incidence occurred in the Scarcity zone (31.01%). It was further observed that almost all soybean varieties cultivated in the region exhibited some level of susceptibility to yellow mosaic disease, indicating the absence of strongly resistant cultivars in farmer fields. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of the present status of SYMV in Marathwada and highlight the urgent need for effective management strategies and development of resistant varieties.