Soybean Rust Update
Current Status of Soybean Rust in North America – July 2009
Asiatic Soybean Rust has been confirmed in Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. Most finds, with the exceptions of Louisiana and Alabama, are on Kudzu. Soybean rust has spread very little this year, even with above average rainfall in many soybean growing areas. Temperatures in the 100 degree range along much of the Gulf Coast have limited its development. With more moderate temperatures and soybeans approaching or at reproductive stages, we can expect rust to accelerate its northward movement. Still, it seems unlikely that rust will arrive until soybean harvest is in progress.The closest to North Carolina confirmation of rust on soybeans is in Gadsden County, FL (near Tallahassee). It is approximately 320 miles from Murphy, NC, 390 miles from Charlotte, and 450 miles from Fayetteville. We do not consider this find to pose any imminent threat to our North Carolina soybeans.
Soybean Disease Summary for North Carolina
Soybean rust currently poses no threat to North Carolina Soybean. Unless a tropical storm or remnants of one moves through the southern US to North Carolina, it is unlikely that soybean rust will affect the soybean crop prior to harvest.Other soybean diseases that are common this year are soybean cyst nematode, Phythophthora root and stem rot, and brown spot. Phytophthora root rot is most prevalent in low spots in fields. Many varieties are resistant to this disease. If the disease occurs on a resistant variety, identify the source of resistance genes or races that variety is resistant to and do not use a similar type of resistance in the future.
Resources for Soybean Rust in 2009
There are more resources for information on Asiatic soybean rust available this year, than in many years in the past. Some sources for more detailed information are listed below:Teletip Phone Number: 1-800-662-7301 (the same number as for the cotton insect update) with a message updated as necessary.
The USDA soybean rust web site http://www.sbrusa.net/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi
The North Carolina Crop Protection Manual http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/6-9.pdf
