Asian Soybean Rust - Agronomic Impact

The rust pathogen reduces both the amount and the efficiency of the green leaf area of the soybean plant. This reduces photosynthesis, which has a direct impact on yield.

Asian soybean rust is an aggressive foliar disease that destroys photosynthetic tissue, causing premature defoliation and reduced yields. Rust infection affects pod filling, the number of seeds, and seed weight.

Yield losses where rust occurs range from 10-80%, depending on how early in the season the plant is infected. Plants are most susceptible in the early R growth stages.

There is no resistance to Asian soybean rust in any commercially available soybean cultivar. However, breeding programs are underway and host resistance is expected to be an effective, long-term management strategy for soybean rust. In the meantime, fungicides are available that slow the spread of the pathogen.

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