Submitted to: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: July 10, 1998
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: Soybean rust is found extensively in areas of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Significant losses have been reported in the Eastern Hemisphere, 10 to 40% in Thailand, 10 to 90% in India, 10 to 50% in Southern China, 23 to 90% in Taiwan, and 40% in Japan. Nearly complete losses can occur in limited areas in most of these countries. Heavily infected plant have reduced seed weight, and fewer pods and seeds. There is not much documentation of losses in other regions, although there indications that rust can be at least locally important in Brazil and most recently Zimbabwe. The disease was first found in the U.S. in Hawaii in 1994. It does not occur in the continental U.S. and it is not known when or how it was introduced into Hawaii. If an epidemic were to occur in the U.S., generalized yield losses are estimated to be at 10% with localized losses exceeding 50%. It is not known whether the fungus would overseason in the continental U.S. but there is a chance that alternative hosts would allow for at least some overseasoning.