Civic Communications Specialist
833 Boonville
Springfield, MO 65802
417-862-9284
burtond@missouri.edu
August 30, 2007
Asian Soybean Rust Threatens Southwest Missouri
The discovery of soybean rust in Oklahoma means soybean producers in southwest Missouri need to be on the look out for Asian Soybean Rust in area fields.
"A wet spring delayed soybean planting in southwest Missouri and many fields are still in the flowering stage or beginning to set pods," said Jay Chism, MU Extension agronomy specialist in Barton County. "The confirmation of Asian soybean rust near Afton, Oklahoma on Aug. 24 makes these late planted beans more susceptible to infection from this serious fungal pathogen."
MU Extension staff continue to monitor sentinel plots in Jasper and Barton counties, as well as, throughout the rest of Missouri. Samples collected on Aug. 24 came back negative for Asian soybean rust, but producers still need to begin to plan control measures.
"This disease can cause serious crop loss," says Chism.
Early detection of soybean rust is key to disease management according to Chism. Fungicides need to be applied in the early stages of the disease to be the most effective.
"Whether to spray fungicides or not is going to have to be done on a field to field basis at this time. Late planted double-crop beans may not have the yield potential to justify fungicide applications, while a field that is in the R3-R4 stage may benefit from a spray," said Chism.
Rust spores and infection is very weather dependent. Optimal conditions are when dew periods are long, rain fall events are frequent and temperatures are in the range of 68 to 77 degrees.
"Asian soybean rust spores may blow into area fields carried by strong winds from Oklahoma, but if the weather is sunny, warm, and dry the spores can not remain viable to infect the soybean plants. It takes around six hours of moisture on the leaves for infection to occur," said Chism.
Many producers are spending a lot of time gearing up for the upcoming corn harvest. But Chism warns that with so many things to do it is easy to miss this fast moving disease.
For more information about Asian soybean rust and control measures contact Jay Chism at (417) 682-3579 or go online to http://www.sbrusa.net/.
Source: Jay Chism, agronomy specialist, (417) 682-3579
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