Sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, is considered one of the most severe diseases of soybean (Glycine max) in southern Brazil. The reaction of 30 cultivars to SDS was evaluated in growth chamber experiments, using the "toothpick method" and "sorghum grain method" of inoculation. In the "toothpick method" the pathogen was inoculated into the plant hypocotile with a colonized toothpick. In the "sorghum grain method" colonized sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grain was placed around plant stems on the soil surface. In both methods of inoculation, differences were found among varieties, with the range of reaction varying from moderately resistant to highly susceptible. Differences between the two methods of inoculation were also verified for classifications of cultivars. The varieties BRS 137, BRS 138, and BRS 66 were considered moderately resistant in the "toothpick method", while IAS 5 and BRS 137 were moderately resistant in the "sorghum grain method". The cultivars Embrapa 59, CEP 12-Cambará, Ipagro 21, FT-Guaíra, FT-Abyara, BR-4, and FT-2003 were moderately susceptible when tested in the toothpick method, while Ivorá, RS 7-Jacuí, Fepagro RS-10, BR-16, CD 203, BR-4, CEP 20-Guajuvira, BRS 154, BRS 138, and Cobb were moderately susceptible when tested with the "sorghum grain method". However, the most susceptible genotypes were Bragg, CD 205, RS 5-Esmeralda, RS 9- Itaúba, IAS 4, Ocepar 14, CD 201, FT 2011, FT-Saray, BRS 153, and FT-2004, irregardless of the testing method used.
