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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361485
Research Project: Integrated Management of Soybean Pathogens and Pests

Location: Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research

Title: Effect of selected biopesticides in reducing soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) development

Author
item TWIZEYIMANA, MATHIAS - University Of Illinois
item Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2019
Publication Date: 4/22/2019
Citation: Twizeyimana, M., Hartman, G.L. 2019. Effect of selected biopesticides in reducing soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) development. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-19-0384-RE.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-19-0384-RE

Interpretive Summary: The intensive use of fungicides in controlling soybean rust may have accelerated the insensitivity of fungal populations to fungicides. The objective of this study was to determine if biopesticides with the appropriate timing of their application would reduce sporulation of the soybean rust fungus. The results showed that there were differences in percent rust reduction with the use of biopesticides applied at specific times. One biopesticide (made from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis) caused one of the highest reductions in sporulation of the soybean rust fungus. The identification of biopesticides effective to reduce soybean rust may be a valuable alternative or compliment to synthetic fungicides and may be useful in integrated pest management programs for soybean rust control. This information is important to soybean growers, extension agents, and others interested in the use of non-synthetic fungicides to control soybean rust.

Technical Abstract: The intensive use of fungicides in controlling soybean rust (SBR), a damaging foliar fungal disease of soybean caused by the obligate fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, may have accelerated the insensitivity of P. pachyrhizi populations to fungicides. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of selected biopesticides and their application time on reducing SBR infection. There were differences (P < 0.05) in percent rust reduction for application times, biopesticide treatments, and their interaction in the detached-leaf and whole-plant greenhouse experiments. All application times and nearly all biopesticide treatments reduced (a = 0.05) fungal infection compared to the non-fungicide control. Bacillus subtilis QST 713 was one of the highest in causing a reduction in fungal sporulation which was often similar to acibenzolar-S-methyl in detached-leaf and whole-plant greenhouse experiments. The identification of biopesticides effective to P. pachyrhizi may be a valuable alternative or compliment to synthetic fungicides and be useful in integrated pest management programs for SBR control.