It has been demonstrated consistently that sudden death syndrome (SDS) is more severe in soybean fields planted earlier in a season. Growers who plant later often experience fewer SDS problems compared with those who plant earlier. Over the years, this observation has led plant pathologists to speculate that the fungus may infect soybean plants when they are very small. Recent research has shed light on why early-planted soybeans are more likely to experience SDS in the fall.