February 17, 2006
From: ProMED-mail<promed@promedmail.org>
Source: stopsoybeanrust.com and Pestalert.org [edited]
<http://www.stopsoybeanrust.com/viewStory.asp?StoryID=686>
<http://www.pestalert.org>

The first official report of Asian soybean rust in Mexico reveals that the disease was found at low incidence on soybeans in 2 east-central states in late October 2005.

The report, "Detection of soybean rust (_Phakopsora pachyrhizi_) in the states of Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi, Mexico," was posted yesterday on the North American Plant Protection Organization's Phytosanitary Alert System Web site, <http://www.pestalert.org>

As translated into English this afternoon on the site, the report read:

"Date posted: 16 Feb 2006
Contact: Dr. Jorge Hernandez Baeza. Director General, Plant Health. SAGARPA- SENASICA <jbaeza@senasica.sagarpa.gob.mx>

At the end of October 2005, soybean leaves of the variety 'Huasteca 400' were collected at harvest. The leaves had symptoms and signs of low-incidence soybean rust in Tamuin, State of San Luis Potosi, and in Altamira, State of Tamaulipas, both municipalities within the region called 'huasteca.'

Samples collected were processed at the molecular mycology and biology laboratory of the National Phytosanitary Reference Centre, with positive results for soybean rust (_Phakopsora pachyrhizi_).

The National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality, through the Plant Health Directorate, has applied a plan to decrease damage and risk of spreading the soybean rust, through outreach activities aimed at monitoring, identifying and controlling the disease."

Tamaulipas is the northern-most Mexican state that borders the Gulf of Mexico, and San Luis Potosi borders Tamaulipas to the west.

In e-mail correspondence today among U.S. soybean rust specialists, University of Kentucky plant pathologist Don Hershman said it's still unknown whether soybean rust has overwintered and is still present in Mexico.

"Soybeans in that part of Mexico are harvested in November, and it is my understanding that kudzu is not very common there," Hershman said. "It is best to take a wait-and-see approach as efforts are made to get a better handle on what the SBR situation is in Mexico at this time."

[Byline: Marilyn Cummins, Editor]

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[This is the first report of soybean rust (_Phakopsora pachyrhizi_) in Mexico. The pathogen was found on soybean (_Glycine max_) leaves at the end of October 2005 in Tamuin, State of San Luis Potosi, and in Altamira, State of Tamaulipas. In contrast to the USA, kudzu (_Pueraria lobata_), an alternative host for the pathogen, is not common there.

The Asian soybean rust 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 had 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 the continental USA (since November, 2004), and Hawaii. The rapid spread of _P. pachyrhizi_ and potential for severe yield losses makes this the most destructive foliar disease of soybean. The items in "see also" below are for non-USA reports of soybean rust.

Maps:
Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi states, Mexico <http://encarta.msn.com/map_701516937/Tampico.html>

Picture:
Pimple-like pustules on soybean leaves.
<http://www.plantpath.wisc.edu/soyhealth/rust/rustbrngh_small.jpg>

Links:
<http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/rust/ > <http://www.usda.gov/soybeanrust/disease_info.shtml >
- Mod.JAD]

[see also in the archive:
2005
----
Soybean rust, Asian strain update 2006 20060214.0482 Soybean rust, Asian strain - Argentina (Misiones) 20051005.2907 Soybean rust, Asian strain - Uruguay 20050819.2435 Soybean rust - Argentina (Santa Fe)(02) 20050816.2397 Soybean rust, Asian strain - Argentina (Santa Fe) 20050617.1715 Soybean rust, Asian strain - Americas: alert 20050528.1476 Soybean rust, dry beans - South Africa 20050210.0452 Soybean rust, Asian strain - Argentina 20050119.0185
2004
----
Soybean rust, Asian strain - Brazil 20041222.3374 Soybean rust, Asian strain - Brazil (multistate) 20041209.3266 Soybean rust, Asian strain - Brazil (PR) 20041129.3186 Soybean rust - Colombia (Cali) 20040827.2393 Soybean rust - Zimbabwe 20040212.0463
2003
----
Soybean rust - Brazil 20030426.1022
Soybean rust - Brazil (Mato Grosso & Bahia) 20030415.0917 Soybean rust - Zimbabwe (Arcturus) 20030222.0456 Soybean rust - Brazil (Sao Paulo State) 20030124.0214
2002
----
Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - S. Africa, Argentina 20021231.6167 Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - South Africa 20020206.3495
2001
----
Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - South Africa (03) 20011213.3014 Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - South Africa (02) 20010405.0679 Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - S. Africa (confirmed) 20010322.0569 Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - South Africa 20010312.0505 Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - Africa (02) 20010310.0491 Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - Africa 20010309.0487 Phakopsora sp., soybean rust - Nigeria 20010309.0486]