Rust Confirmed in Louisiana, Alabama
Southern producers should consider yield potential and cost when making the decision about whether to spray fungicides in the absence of soybean rust confirmation.
Compiled by staff
Published: Jul 4, 2006
An agricultural consultant found Asian soybean rust on kudzu in Louisiana late last week just south of LaFayette.
Blain Viator, an agricultural consultant, found the infected leaves, on a patch of kudzu in a shady area.
Clayton Hollier, Louisiana State University AgCenter plant pathologist, points out that this is the first report of soybean rust in Louisiana this year and it has yet to be found on soybeans in the state.
Hollier urges scouting of soybean fields at least every two to three days in areas along tree lines that are shaded in the morning.
"Although soybean rust is present on kudzu, there is not need to activate rust control measures at this time, although this could change very quickly if rust is found in commercial fields," Hollier says.
The USDA has confirmed soybean rust on sentinel plot soybeans in Baldwin County, Ala., last week as well. After 48 hours of observation, officials at the USDA found five soybean rust lesions on a Group III maturity bean - Pioneer 93M90 - at R5-R6 growth stage. Leaves were also collected from commercial fields planted adjacent to the infected plants, but no soybean rust was observed. Also on June 27, infected kudzu leaves were collected from a patch previously reported infected with soybean rust.
Hollier says the recent dry and hot weather hasn't been conducive to the growth of soybean rust. Consider yield potential and cost when making the decision about whether to spray fungicides in the absence of soybean rust confirmation.
Soybeans in the R1-R5 growth stages are especially sensitive to yield losses if soybean rust develops.
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Tagged: soybean, soybean rust, soybeans, usda, Asian soybean rust
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