Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #142323

Title: SOYBEAN RUST: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Author
item Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: Illinois Crop Protection Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2003
Publication Date: 6/10/2003
Citation: Hartman, G.L. 2003. Soybean rust: past, present and future. Illinois Crop Protection Workshop Proceedings; 2003.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soybean rust is probably the most important foliar disease worldwide. Significant yield losses have been reported in nearly all the major soybean-producing countries throughout the world with the exception of those in North America. It was predicted that yield losses of greater than 10 percent may occur in nearly all of the U.S. soybean growing areas, with greater losses in the Mississippi delta and southeastern coastal areas. The most common symptoms of rust are tan to dark brown or reddish brown polygonal lesions. On 4 May 1994, soybean rust was detected on a farm in Mililani located in the central part of the island of Oahu. In 1998, rust was discovered in Zimbabwe and then two years later in South Africa. It is now known to occur in several countries in South America. The pathogen that causes soybean rust could enter into the continental U.S. in several different ways. One potential avenue is through its continued spread by spores north from field to field through South America, Central America and to Mexico. It potentially could come into the U.S. by way of tropical storms either from equatorial or northern regions in South America or by way of West Africa. Various forms of management of rust, including host resistance and the use of fungicides are discussed.