September 12, 2005
From: Southeast Farm Press, 12 Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://southeastfarmpress.com/news/091205-Rust-update/>

With Asian soybean rust [ASR] nipping at its heels, the Southeast soybean crop is nearing the finish line. As pods fill and rust-ravaged leaves fall, R-6 designation and safety can't come soon enough for producers.

Bob Kermerait, Georgia Extension plant pathologist, stated on 9 Sep 2005 that, except for the northeastern and northwestern parts of the state, ASR is showing up in commercial fields. Soybeans are either at -- or approaching -- full seed. The understanding is once they reach that level of maturity, the crop is fairly safe from ASR.

The first 2 weeks of September saw more discoveries of the disease in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.

ASR remains a threat in Alabama but may be slowing. After a spate of findings in August, state officials announced just 1 new case in the last 2 weeks in a Chilton County sentinel plot. Ed Sikora, Alabama Extension plant pathologist, said that much of the crop is being harvested or is nearing it but "we have quite a few double-crop beans still at risk."

In Georgia, where yields look "very good," September findings have been in Spalding, Tatnall, Tift, Washington, Laurens, and Marion counties. "Most growers are very aware of what they're facing with this disease," said Kemerait. He believes the critical thing now is with growers whose crops are still in early pod-fill stages. With the plentiful amount of ASR now in the state there's reason to be worried for them.

Defoliation is occurring in some Georgia fields, but Kemerait is happy it isn't at the level feared prior to the season's start. "Information out of Brazil indicated there would be massive defoliation within 2 weeks of initial infection. That hasn't happened here. ASR isn't moving as quickly here as it has in Brazil."

But Kermerait said there is no question that ASR is now "definitely well-established in the state."

[Byline: David Bennett]

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ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org> 

[The national total of rust-infected counties is now 58 in these 5 states: Alabama, 15; Florida, 22; Georgia, 16; Mississippi, 2; South Carolina, 3.

Links: <http://www.stopsoybeanrust.com/viewStory.asp?StoryID=545>
<http://www.stopsoybeanrust.com/viewStory.asp?StoryID=543>
- Mod.DH]

[see also in the archive:
Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (FL): 1st report 2005 20050309.0693 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (GA) 20050429.1196 Soybean rust, Asian strain - Americas: alert 20050528.1476 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (GA) 20050505.1245 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (LA) 20050624.1769 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (FL) (02) 20050620.1731 Asian soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (multistate) 20050724.2133 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (AL) 20050715.2029 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (multistate)(03) 20050714.2005 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (multistate)(02): Florida 20050708.1938 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (multistate) 20050702.1868 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (multistate)(04) 20050829.2556 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (GA)(03) 20050827.2531 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (AL)(03) 20050826.2528 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (AL)(02) 20050824.2496 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (SC) 20050818.2414 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (FL)(03) 20050815.2386 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (Multistate)(06) 20050808.2318 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (multistate)(05): susp. 20050806.2291 Soybean rust - USA (multistate)(04) 20050806.2289 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (multistate) (07) 20050909.2672 Soybean rust, Asian strain - USA (GA) (04) 20050905.2623]