Phakopsora pachyrhizi was discovered on soybeans in Uganda in 1996. This was the initial confirmation of the pathogen on soybeans in Africa, although there had been earlier unsubstantiated listings on other legumes. Thereafter, it was wind-dispersed southward to Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Zambia in February 1998, where it severely damaged commercial plantings. It also devastated small-scale fields in eastern Nigeria at about this time. Rust continued its southward movement to southern Mozambique in early 2000, and into eastern South Africa in March 2001. By early 2003, substantial losses were being reported from western Cameroon. Scientists in Zimbabwe and South Africa have coordinated their research to combat the pathogen and have developed a strategy based on the effective, economical use of fungicides and the development of resistant germ plasm. The chemical and spraying recommendations resulting from field studies are discussed in relation to their practicalities, and a preliminary analysis of the meteorological data recorded will show the fundamental factors that influence the development of an epidemic.

Soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is a devastating foliar disease of soybean that may cause significant yield losses if not managed by well-timed fungicide applications. To determine the effect of fungicide timing on soybean rust severity and soybean yield, field trials were completed in Paraguay (four locations), the United States (two locations), and Zimbabwe (one location) from 2005 to 2006. Treatments at each location included applications of tebuconazole, pyraclostrobin, or a combination of azoxystrobin + propiconazole, and in some locations pyraclostrobin + tebuconazole at the following soybean growth stages (GS): (i) GS R1 (beginning flowering), (ii) GS R3 (beginning pod), (iii) GS R5 (beginning seed), (iv) GS R1 + R3, (v) GS R3 + R5, and (vi) GS R1 + R3 + R5. Soybean yields from plots treated with fungicides were 16 to 114% greater than yields from no fungicide control plots in four locations in Paraguay, 12 to 55% greater in two locations in the United States, and 31% greater in Zimbabwe. In all locations, rust severity measured over time as area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was negatively correlated (r = –0.3, P < 0.0001) to yield. The effectiveness of any given treatment (timing of application and product applied) was often dependent on when rust was first detected and the intensity of its development. For example, when soybean rust was first observed before GS R3 (two locations in Paraguay), the plants in plots treated with a fungicide at GS R1 had the lowest AUPDC values and highest yields. When soybean rust was first observed after GS R3, plants treated with a fungicide at GS R3 and/or GS R5 had the lowest AUDPC values and highest yields with a few exceptions.

The efficacy of fungicides in managing soybean rust was evaluated in 12 environments in South America and southern Africa over three growing seasons from 2002 to 2005. There were differences in final soybean rust severity, defoliation, and yield among the treatments at most locations. In locations where soybean rust was not severe, all the fungicides evaluated reduced severity. In locations where soybean rust was severe, applications of triazole and triazole + strobilurin fungicides resulted in lower severity and higher yields compared with other fungicides. The strobilurin fungicides provided the highest yields in many locations; however, severity tended to be higher than that of the triazole fungicides. There also were differences in yield and severity between the trials with two and three applications of several fungicides, with three applications resulting in less severe soybean rust and higher yields. However, the third application of tebuconazole, tetraconazole, and the mixtures containing azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin was not needed to maintain yield. These fungicides were among the most effective for managing soybean rust and maintaining yield over most locations.

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