Asian Soybean Rust

Introduction

Asian Soybean RustThe mission of this project is for NFREC-Quincy to serve as a Center for North American research and extension on the emerging plant pathogen Phakopsora pachyrhizi, a recently introduced fungus that causes soybean rust and formerly on the Select Agent list. While Florida is not a major soybean (Glycine max) producing state it has many thousand more acres of kudzu (Pueraria montana), an alternate host of the pathogen that it overwinters on. Each year overwintering spores produced on kudzu in the Southeast reinvade the soybean producing states in the Midwest.

Soybean rust was discovered for the first time in Florida at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in November of 2004, shortly after it was first discovered in North America in Louisiana. In 2005 Jim Marois, plant pathologist, and David Wright, agronomist, were requested by scientists at Iowa State University and USDA/APHIS to help with a national monitoring project. This was closely linked with Carrie Harmon, Associate Director of the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network in Gainesville. They also conducted a small number of fungicide trials at the request of the chemical industry. In 2006 the North Central Soybean Research Program and the United Soybean Board approached UF with the idea of establishing an Emerging Plant Pathogens Center at the NFREC with an emphasis on soybean rust. Other UF faculty (Phil Harmon, Ann Blount, and Cheryl Mackowiak) joined the project in 2006.

NFREC Plots
Dr. Saratha Kumudini discussing her plots at NFREC with Dr. Albert Tenuta		 Breeding Trials
Portion of Dr. David Walker's breeding trials.

Since 2005 we have conducted cooperative research at the NFREC with over 40 scientists from across North America from 11 universities, USDA/ARS, USDA/APHIS and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Canada. Eleven graduate students from 5 universities have conducted research at the Center. We have also cooperated with over 15 agri-business companies, including members from the fertilizer industry, pesticide industry, application industry, and seed/genetics industry.

Some of the major impacts are: we have trained over 450 people on rust identification, identified effective chemical control strategies, identified promising sources of resistance, quantified the impact of cultural practices and environment on disease development and over wintering, and managed sentinel plots that were critical to informing the North American soybean industry of seasonal rust development

Rain Simulator
Dr. Dario Narváez and Dr. Nick Dufault working with a rain simulator.		 Rust Clas ID Disease
Participants in Rust Class learning to ID disease working in the field.

Specific products include 27 scientific publications, 38 scientific abstracts and posters, 19 invited presentations to growers groups and scientific meetings, and numerous presentations to research boards, field days, training programs, and industry groups. A GAO report estimated that up to $299,000,000 was saved by the soybean industry in 2005 alone because of the sentinel plot monitoring system (posted at http://sbrusa.net/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi) we participate in.

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Actvities 2009

  • Monitored soybean and kudzu sentinel plots across the state of Florida. Updating web site and hotline, conducting PCR on suspected samples.
  • Conducted growth chamber and field experiments on cold (over wintering) survival of spores and uredinea.
  • Conducted fungicide field trials testing rates, timing, chemistry, and application technology.
  • Conducted field trials on interactions of row width and canopy microclimate on spread of disease within the field.
  • Conducted trials on effect of weather on spore release and spore capture technology.
  • Tested over 2500 breeding lines and more advanced varieties for rust resistance in the field, including a collection of lines from Canada.
  • Examined populations of kudzu for variations in susceptibility to soybean rust, indentifying several very resistant lines.
  • Developed and began experimenting with disease forecast models to help growers to determine when it is necessary for fungicides to be applied to their specific fields.
  • Will conducted 1 training class with over 70 participants.
  • Host NCERA 208 2009 meetings in September, 2009.

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Grants 2009

  • “Population dynamics and epidemiology of Asian Soybean Rust in North American soybean production systems”
    funded by North Central Soybean Research Program
    Principle Investigator is Dr. Jim Marois with Dr. David Wright and Dr. Phil Harmon, University of Florida
  • “Continued development of the IPM PIPE Risk Management Tool”
    funded by NCSU Cooperative Agreement with USDA CSREES and USDA RMA
    Principle Investigator is Dr. Jim VanKirk, Southern Region IPM, North Carolina State University
  • “Monitoring aerial transport of Asian Phakopsora pachyrhizi spores”
    funded by USDA/ARS
    Principle Investigator is Dr. Les J. Szabo, USDA/ARS Cereal Disease Lab, St. Paul, MN
  • “Characterization of soybean pathogens and disease management”
    funded by USDA ARS
    Principle Investigator is Dr. David Walker, Plant Geneticist, USDA/ARS at The Laboratory for Soybean Disease Research at University of Illinois
  • “Searching for partial resistance to soybean rust by comparing the timeline of resistance components to Phakopsora pachyrhizi on soybeans and alternative hosts.”
    Funded by Iowa Soybean Association
    Principle Investigator is Dr. Leonor Leandro, Plant Pathologist, Iowa State University
  • “Establishment of soybean rust sentinel plots in Florida”
    funded by Northeast Checkoff Soybean Research Program
    Principle Investigator is Jim Marois

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Accomplishments to Date

Outreach

We have conducted 7 training sessions on soybean rust for over 450 consultants, growers, researchers, and extension agents from throughout the soybean growing region of North America. We have also accommodated numerous small groups who have visited the NFREC to learn about soybean rust. We hosted the North Central Education and Research 208 (NCERA 208) Soybean Rust meeting in 2006 and 2009.

Papers (27)

  • Dufault, N. S., Isard, S. A., Marois, J. J., and Wright, D. L. 2009. A detached soybean leaflet bioassay for field sampling of viable Phakopsora pachyrhizi urediniospores. Plant Disease submitted
  • Mueller, T. A., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L. Kemerait, R. C., Bode, L. E., Miles, M. R., and Hartman, G. L. 2009. The effect of pressure, nozzle tips, and application volumes on soybean leaf coverage, rust severity, and yield. Plant Health Progress submitted
  • Mueller, T. A., Miles, M. R., Morel, W., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., Kemerait, R. C., Levy, C., and Hartman, G. L. 2009. Effect of fungicide and timing of application on soybean rust severity and yield. Plant Disease 93:243-248.
  • Panthee, D.R., Marois, J.J., Wright, D.L., Narváez, D. Yuan, J. S., and Stewart, C. N. Jr. 2009. Differential expression of genes in soybean in response to the causal agent of Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow) is soybean growth stage specific. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 118:359-370. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00122-008-0905-1
  • Panthee, D.R., Marois, J.J., Wright, D.L., Narváez, D. Yuan, J. S and Stewart, C.N. Jr. 2008. Differential expression of genes in soybean in response to the causal agent of Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow) is soybean growth stage specific.
  • Theoretical and Applied Genetics http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00122-008-0905-1
  • Jurick, W. M., II1, Narvaez, D. F., Brennan, M. M., Harmon, C. L., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., and. Harmon, P. F. 2008. Winter Survival of the Soybean Rust Pathogen, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, in Florida. Plant Disease 92:1551-1558.
  • Slaminko, T. L., Miles, M. R., Marois, J. J., and Hartman, G. L. 2008. Hosts of Phakopsora pachyrhizi identified in field evaluations in Florida. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2008-1103-01-RS.
  • Gevens, A. J., Nequi, N., Vitoreli, A., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., Harmon, C. L., and Harmon, P. F. 2008. First report of soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi on Erythrina herbacea (Coral Bean). Plant Disease 92:1472.
  • Mueller, T. A., Marois, J. J., and Wright, D. L. 2008. Evaluation of Roundup Weathermax as a fungicide for the management of soybean rust at the NFREC, Quincy, FL. 2007. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC017.
  • Mueller, T. A., O’Brien, G. K., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2008. Evaluation of Cheminova fungicides for the management of soybean rust in northwest Florida, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC091.
  • Mueller, T. A., O’Brien, G. K., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2008. Evaluation of Valent fungicides for the management of soybean rust in northwest Florida, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC090.
  • Mueller, T. A., O’Brien, G. K., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2008. Evaluation of Cerexagri fungicides for the management of soybean rust in northwest Florida, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC089.
  • Mueller, T. A., O’Brien, G. K., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2008. Evaluation of Dow fungicides for the management of soybean rust in northwest Florida, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC088.
  • Mueller, T. A., O’Brien, G. K., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2008. Evaluation of fungicides for the control of soybean rust in northwest Florida, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC087.
  • Mueller, T. A., O’Brien, G. K., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2008. Evaluation of chlorine and other nutrients for the control of soybean rust at the NFREC, Quincy, FL, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC002.
  • Mueller, T. A., O’Brien, G. K., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2008. Evaluation of BTN+ for the control of soybean rust, Quincy, FL, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC037
  • Mueller, T. A., Miles, M.R., Hartman, G.L., O’Brien, G. K., Marois, J. J., and Wright, D. L. 2008. Evaluations of fungicides and fungicide timing for the control of soybean rust in northwest Florida, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC086.
  • Mueller, T. A., O’Brien, G. K., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2008. Evaluation of fungicides and adjuvants for the control of soybean rust in northwest Florida, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 2:FC085.
  • Jurick, W. M. II, Harmon, C. L., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., Lamour, K., Vitoreli, A., Creswell, T., Hershman, D., Estevez, C., Kemerait, B., Balbalian, C., and Harmon, P. F. 2007. A Comparative Analysis of Diagnostic Protocols for Detection of the Asian Soybean Rust Pathogen, Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Plant Health Progress. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/php/research/2007/protocols/
  • Panthee, D. R., Yuan, J., Wright, D. L., Marois, J. J., Mailhot, D., and Stewart, C. N. Jr. 2007. Gene expression analysis in soybean in response to the causal agent of Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow) in an early growth stage. Functional and Integrative Genomics 7:291-301.
  • Jurick W. M., II, Narváez, D. F., Harmon, C. L., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., and Harmon, P. F. 2007. Asian Soybean Rust. EDIS. University of Florida, Gainesville.
  • Lynch, T. N., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., Harmon, P. F., Harmon, C. L,. Miles, M. R., and Hartman, G. L. 2006. First report of soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi on Phaseolus species in the United States. Plant Disease 90:970.
  • Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., and Wiatrak, P. J. 2006. Evaluation of fungicides for Asian soybean rust on late plantings in Florida, 2005. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 61:FC062
  • Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., and Wiatrak, P. J. 2006. Evaluation of fungicides for Asian soybean rust in Florida, 2005. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 61:FC063
  • Harmon, P. F., Harmon, C. L., Mueller, T. A., Marois, J. J., Hartman, G. L. 2006. First report of Phakopsora pachyrhizi telia on kudzu in the United States. Plant Disease 90 (3):380-380.
  • Sconyers, L. E., Kemerait, R. C., Brock, J., Phillips, D. V., Jost, P. H., Sikora, E. J., Gutierrez-Estrada, A., Mueller, J. D., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., and Harmon, C. L. 2006. Asian Soybean Rust Development in 2005: A Perspective from the Southeastern United States. APSnet Feature Article http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/sbr/
  • Harmon, P. F., Momol, M. T., Marois, J. J., Dankers, H., and Harmon, C. L. 2005. Asian soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi on soybean and kudzu in Florida. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2005-0613-01-RS.

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Principle Investigators

Post Docs

  • Dario Narváez
  • Steve Jordon
  • Pratibha Srivastava
  • Wayne Jurick
  • Daniele Liberti

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