Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist; bobmul@udel.edu
Rust was reported on Jicama (Yam Bean) from the state of Chiapas, Mexico in Mapastepec Municipality (county) on June 3rd. Since the beginning of 2008, soybean rust has been reported on kudzu in one county in Alabama; nine counties in Florida (two of these counties had reports on coral bean and snap bean); three counties in Louisiana; one county in Mississippi, and three counties in Texas. Reported infected kudzu sites in most states have been destroyed. Rust was also reported in three states (5 municipalities) in Mexico on yam bean and soybean. These too have been destroyed or are no longer active, except for the recent find in Chiapas. Soybean sentinel plots have been established throughout the Gulf Coast region, and in many parts of the lower Midwest. Additional rains throughout most of the soybean growing region could favor rust development, especially in locations in the South near sources of infected plants.
We are in the process of planting our sentinel plots in DE. This year a Group III and a Group VI are being planted in 7 locations throughout the state. Planting should be completed by next week if the weather cooperates. The plots will be visited every two weeks until flowering when they will be monitored weekly for the remainder of the season.
