September 1, 2006

Asian soy rust found in US state of South Carolina

Asian soybean rust was found in soybean sentinel plots in a South Carolina county, according to a website monitoring the disease.

This is the second location and county to have rust in South Carolina this year. Rust was found in another county about two weeks ago. There are now 37 counties and parishes in seven states with soybean rust.

Rust was identified on leaves collected Aug 28 from two sentinel plots in Orangeburg County. Initially, six of 50 leaves from the two plots were infested. Four of the leaves had only one to five lesions with multiple pustules, while the rest had more, according to the South Carolina state commentary.

High relative humidity the past week, along with rain from the hurricane this week and thunderstorms forecast for next week should be very favourable for the development of rust, the commentary said.

State officials said rust is probably present in South Carolina in more than just these two locations, and scouting of individual fields may be necessary.