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January 2007 started off with more reports of soybean rust on kudzu in southern states than in 2005 or 2006. This caused speculation that soybean rust could be a more serious problem in 2007 because of the earlier development of inoculum in the southern states. But the record low temperatures that occurred throughout the Midwest the last of March and first of April also struck in the South. Previously infected kudzu patches were killed back. There have not been any new reports of soybean rust since late March. Since the disease can no longer be found in many of the previously infected kudzu patches in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, those sites on the national IPM PIPE Website (www.sbrusa.net) have been turned from red (soybean rust confirmed) to red cross hatch (soybean rust confirmed but not longer found). Recent dry weather conditions in southern states except for Texas have been unfavorable for the development of soybean rust. Soybean sentinel plots have been planted and are still being planted in the southern states and scouting for soybean rust on both kudzu and soybean in underway in earnest for the 2007. The IPM PIPE Web at www.sbrusa.net is a good site for information on the current status of soybean rust in the United States.

Missouri will be participating in the sentinel plot program for both soybean rust and soybean aphid during the 2007 season. We will have approximately 20 sentinel plots and are in process of identifying those sites right now. It will likely be mid-May before plots reach a stage of growth suitable for scouting.

Laura Sweets
Plant Pathologist
SweetsL@missouri.edu