Soybean Rust Update

from the Illinois Soybean Rust Information Center (http://www.soybeanrust.org/alerts.htm)...

Crop Growth Stage
Across the state sentinel soybean plots are mature and being harvested. Double crop beans and a few late maturity group bean fields are being scouted.

Observation and Outlook
Sentinel plotsSoybean rust was detected in several Kentucky counties near the southeast border to Illinois. On October 11, intensive scouting in southern Illinois resumed due to the confirmation of soybean rust in Kentucky. If soybean rust is detected in southern Illinois, the USDA and Illinois websites will be updated as soon as possible. For the 2006 growing season, forty sentinel soybean rust plots were sampled for soybean rust in the state--most plots are soybean but kudzu and one pea plot were also included. Double crop soybean sentinel plots were planted and scouted in southern Illinois. Additionally, 16 of the sentinel plots are being scouted for soybean aphid for the PIPE program.

Several foliar diseases are being observed including Septoria brown spot,frogeye leaf spot, bacterial blight, bacterial pustule and downy mildew. Rust was not observed.

Kudzu plots in southern Illinois show no symptoms or signs of rust infection.

Observation and Outlook
Experimental spore traps Since October 1, spores resembling soybean rust were detected in Syngenta traps in DeKalb, Warren, and Champaign Counties. In late August, spores resembling soybean rust were detected in Illinois experimental spore traps (Warren County, Syngenta trap, 1 spore and Sangamon County, Syngenta trap, 16 spores). Previously, spores resembling those of soybean rust were detected in the Illinois Syngenta rust traps the week of August 14 (Adams County--3 spores, DeKalb County--7 spores, Champaign County--7 spores, Sangamon County--2 spores, and Warren County--12 spores). The first detection of spores resembling soybean rust in Illinois occured in late July in Champaign County. This spore detection method cannot determine if these spores are viable or if these spores are soybean rust spores, Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Soybean growers should scout their soybean fields once to twice a week and continue to monitor Illinois weather conditions that may be conducive for disease development. Dry to very dry conditions have prevailed in the spore source regions in the southern states and movement of soybean rust to new areas has been slow.

About 28 experimental spore traps have been set up in Illinois. These include the Super Sniffers, Windsocks, and Passive Rain Water traps. Although these spore traps can capture soybean rust spores, and samples can be analyzed by various means including microscopic and molecular, these experimental traps cannot distinguish between living and dead spores. Thus, identification of spores in traps does not suggest that rust is eminent but does indicate that weekly scouting is needed.