November 23, 2005

More soybean rust discovered in US state Georgia

Extension specialists have reported the discovery of Asian soybean rust on weeds growing in the north-western part of Georgia, adjacent to the Tennessee state line.

"Rust was confirmed (Monday) in Whitfield County on a roadside kudzu patch," reported University of Georgia assistant professor Bob Kemerait to the USDA's public rust website. "This was the first rust find in that county."

Georgia has already found 35 counties positive for the airborne fungus in 2005, the highest among any US state.

In all, the feared plant disease has invaded 135 US counties across nine states this season, starting in Florida, spreading as far west as south-eastern Texas, as far north as western Kentucky and as far east as the Atlantic Coast of North Carolina.

Even so, scientists feel the disease did little damage to the US soybean crop, largely due to its late arrival in most areas.

"Nearly all of the soybeans in the state are approaching, or have surpassed, harvest maturity," added Kemerait.

A rust infection forecast published Monday by USDA predicts, "little soybean rust transport and depositions for the south-eastern US," through Wednesday, due to unfavourable weather conditions.