UGA Cooperative Extension is a collaboration between UGA CAES and UGA FACS.
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Our Impact
Asian soybean rust, caused by the fungal pathogen Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is one of the most important and devastating diseases of soybean in the world today. Currently, there are no soybean varieties that are resistant to the disease and yield losses can be devastating to growers. The disease can be effectively managed with fungicides; however the fungicides add to the cost of production. Asian soybean rust was detected in Georgia in 2006 for the third year in a row. UGA researchers, UGA Cooperative Extension specialists and county agents searched the state for patches of kudzu that survived winter freezes and potentially harbored pustules of P. pachyrhizi. Scouting throughout Georgia in early 2006 documented not only the survival of kudzu in isolated protected pockets in southern Georgia, but also that Asian soybean rust successfully over-wintered in Miller, Thomas, Grady, and Brooks counties. Such information has tremendous implications for the early spread of the disease into the state and beyond. Results from study of Asian soybean rust in Georgia in 2006 have provided many results. First, it is now known with certainty that Asian soybean rust can overwinter successfully as far north as Miller County. Second, from the data collected from fungicide trials, growers now have a much better understanding of the efficacy of fungicides available for use to manage SBR. More importantly, it is now very clear that SBR cannot be treated like other crop diseases where effective control can still be maintained if fungicides applications are initiated at first appearance of disease.
