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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #150029
Title: SOYBEAN RUST: IS THE U.S. SOYBEAN CROP AT RISK?

Author
item Miles, Monte
item Frederick, Reid
item Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: APS Net Plant Pathology Online
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2003
Publication Date: 12/10/2004
Citation: Miles, M.R., Frederick, R.D., Hartman, G.L. 2004. Soybean rust: Is the U.S. Soybean Crop At Risk?. APS Net Plant Pathology Online.

Interpretive Summary: In 1984, an economic risk analysis projected the potential losses in the U.S. would be $7.1 billion per year, once soybean rust was established in the main soybean growing area of the U.S. A conservative prediction indicated yield losses greater than 10 percent in nearly all the U.S. soybean growing areas with losses up to 50 percent in the Mississippi delta and southeastern costal states.The disease was found in Hawaii in 1994, but has yet to be found in the continental U.S. This paper reviews what is currently known about the two pathogens that cause soybean rust, their host range, and reviews current research in the area of host resistance and fungicide use. This information is useful to all scientists dealing with soybean crop production.

Technical Abstract: The Asian soybean rust, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, has been known to drastically reduce yields in Asia. In areas where the pathogen occurs commonly, yield losses up to 80 percent have been reported. The pathogen has been limited to the Eastern hemisphere until it was found in Hawaii in 1994. Currently, the distribution of P. pachyrhizi includes Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, and Hawaii. The rapid spread of P. pachyrhizi and potential for severe yield losses makes this the most destructive foliar disease of soybeans. Soybean rust could have a major impact on both total soybean production and production costs in the U.S.