DATE: 4/27/05

CONTACT: Dr. John Mueller, (803) 284-3343, ext. 223;

WRITER: Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343, ext. 241

Soybean rust already showing up in Florida , Georgia sites

BLACKVILLE – Asian soybean rust was found Tuesday on volunteer soybean plants in Seminole County in southwestern Georgia , near the Florida line, according to a Clemson University plant pathologist.

“This is in addition to three Asian soybean rust sites confirmed in recent weeks in Marion , Hernando and Pasco counties in Florida , in the area around Tampa ,” said John Mueller.

Kudzu from a patch in Seminole County is also suspected to be infected with rust. The infected plants were found by University of Georgia personnel.

“The new finding means that winds from a southwesterly direction may carry spores into South Carolina , in addition to northerly winds from the Tampa area,” said Mueller.

More than 100 monitoring plots for the disease, which can drastically reduce soybean yields, have been established in Florida , Georgia , Louisiana and Mississippi . Surveys of other sites are also conducted on a regular basis.

“We have also tried to establish soybean monitoring plots in South Carolina , but the weather has not cooperated,” said Mueller. “Most of the kudzu patches that we have visited have been hurt by frost.”

“That rust has been found in one new site is significant, but should not be too surprising,” said Mueller.

He said that rust monitoring teams have been surveying kudzu and volunteer soybean plots on a weekly basis. No rust has yet been found in South Carolina .

Soybean growers who wish to monitor developments with Asian soybean rust may find information on the Internet at www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/soybeanrust/index.php and at www.sbrusa.net.

END