October 4, 2006

Asian soybean rust detected in five more US counties

Asian soybean rust has been found in five more US counties, the US Department of Agriculture said.

The fungus has been found in Saluda County, South Carolina, and Sampson and Washington counties in North Carolina, the USDA said Tuesday on its public rust website.

Late Monday, the USDA said Asian rust had been found in Autauga and Geneva counties in Alabama.

The fungus has been found in 88 counties in eight states. So far, Asian rust has been found in seven counties in Alabama, 15 in Florida, 18 in Louisiana, 18 in South Carolina, 13 in Georgia, three in Texas, two in Mississippi and 12 in North Carolina.

Over the next three to five days, an increased threat of the disease's spread is seen for the Carolinas and Florida, according to a forecast posted on the Web site.

The plant pathogen flourishes in warm, damp, overcast weather, causing premature defoliation of immature soybeans and sometimes major yield losses, unless immediately countered with chemical fungicides.