Models and applications for risk assessment and prediction of Asian soybean rust epidemics

Asian rust of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] is one of the most important fungal diseases of this crop worldwide. The recent introduction of Phakopsora pachyrhiziSyd. & P. Syd in the Americas represents a major threat to soybean production in the main growing regions, and significant losses have already been reported. P. pachyrhizi is extremely aggressive under favorable weather conditions, causing rapid plant defoliation. Epidemiological studies, under both controlled and natural environmental conditions, have been done for several decades with the aim of elucidating factors that affect the disease cycle as a basis for disease modeling. The recent spread of Asian soybean rust to major production regions in the world has promoted new development, testing and application of mathematical models to assess the risk and predict the disease. These efforts have included the integration of new data, epidemiological knowledge, statistical methods, and advances in computer simulation to develop models and systems with different spatial and temporal scales, objectives and audience. In this review, we present a comprehensive discussion on the models and systems that have been tested to predict and assess the risk of Asian soybean rust. Limitations, uncertainties and challenges for modelers are also discussed

Relationship between climate and the progress of the asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) in two micro-regions of Paraná State /<br> Relações entre o clima e o progresso da ferrugem asiática (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) em duas micro-regiões do Estado do Paraná

The objective of the work was to study the influence of the climate on the progress of the soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) under field conditions. Two assays were carried out during the 2005/2006 season in Castro and Arapoti regions, Paraná. The epidemic was divided in three periods: sowing until first symptoms of disease; beginning of the disease until severity of 20% and severity of 20% until maximum severity. The rust symptoms occurred in Castro at 78 days and in Arapoti at 82 days after the sowing. The biggest duration of leaf wetness period - Dpm (18 hours) was observed in Castro. During the second period of the epidemic, Arapoti presented apparent infection rate-r (0.18), higher than observed in Castro (0.12). During same period were observed greater rainfall values and greater index of number of days of rain – Indr compared with Castro. The final disease severity was 99.9% in Arapoti and 96% in Castro 96%. It was observed a relation between Dpm with the appearance of the first symptoms and was also observed and relation between precipitation data and Indc with the progress of the epidemic. The ambient conditions had been more favorable to the disease in Arapoti, where bigger value of AACPDp (38.2) was observed and less favorable for Castro (30.4).<p><p>O trabalho objetivou estudar, em condições de campo, a influência do clima no progresso da ferrugem da soja (Phakopsora pachyrhizi). Dois ensaios foram conduzidos na safra 2005/2006, um na região de Castro e outro em Arapoti, Paraná. Dividiu-se a epidemia em três períodos: semeadura até primeiros sintomas da doença, do início da doença até severidade de 20% e severidade de 20% até severidade máxima. Os sintomas da ferrugem apareceram em Castro aos 78 dias e em Arapoti aos 82 dias após a semeadura. A maior duração do período de molhamento foliar - Dpm (18 horas) foi observada em Castro. No segundo período da epidemia, Arapoti apresentou taxa aparente de infecção-r (0,18), maior do que observado em Castro (0,12). Durante mesmo período foram observados maiores valores de precipitação e maior índice de número de dias de chuva (Indc) quando comparados à Castro. No período final, em Arapoti obteve-se severidade final de 99,9% e em Castro 96%. Observou-se relação entre Dpm com o aparecimento dos primeiros sintomas e também relação entre dados de precipitação e Indc com o progresso da epidemia. As condições ambientais foram mais favoráveis à doença em Arapoti, onde foi observado maior valor da AACPDp (38,2) e menos favoráveis para Castro (30,4)

Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium in soybean crop: a meta-analysis of studies from 1987 to 2018

Background The co-inoculation of soybean with Bradyrhizobium and other plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is considered a promising technology. However, there has been little quantitative analysis of the effects of this technique on yield variables. In this context, the present study aiming to provide a quantification of the effects of the co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium and PGPR on the soybean crop using a meta-analysis approach. Methods A total of 42 published articles were examined, all of which considered the effects of co-inoculation of PGPR and Bradyrhizobium on the number of nodules, nodule biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, shoot nitrogen content, and grain yield of soybean. We also determined whether the genus of the PGPR used as co-inoculant, as well as the experimental conditions, altered the effect size of the PGPR. Results The co-inoculation technology resulted in a significant increase in nodule number (11.40%), nodule biomass (6.47%), root biomass (12.84%), and shoot biomass (6.53%). Despite these positive results, no significant increase was observed in shoot nitrogen content and grain yield. The response of the co-inoculation varied according to the PGPR genus used as co-inoculant, as well as with the experimental conditions. In general, the genera Azospirillum, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas were more effective than Serratia. Overall, the observed increments were more pronounced under pot than that of field conditions. Collectively, this study summarize that co-inoculation improves plant development and increases nodulation, which may be important in overcoming nutritional limitations and potential stresses during the plant growth cycle, even though significant increases in grain yield have not been evidenced by this data meta-analysis

Meta-analytic modeling of the decline in performance of fungicides for managing soybean rust after a decade of use in Brazil

An apparent decline of fungicide performance for the control of soybean rust in Brazil has been reported but the rate at which it has occurred has not been formally quantified. Control efficacy and yield response to three fungicides applied as single active ingredients (a.i.)—azoxystrobin (AZOX), cyproconazole (CYPR), and tebuconazole (TEBU)—and four applied as mixtures—AZOX+CYPR, picoxystrobin + CYPR, pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole, and trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole (TRIF+PROT)—were summarized using network meta-analytic models fitted to mean severity and yield data from 250 trials (10-year period). The effect of year was tested on both variables in a meta-regression model. Overall control efficacy ranged from 56 to 84%; the three single-a.i. fungicides performed the poorest (56 to 62%). Yield increase for single-a.i. fungicides was as low as 30% but ranged from 47 to 65% for the premixes. Significant declines in both variables were detected for all fungicides except TRIF+PROT. For TEBU, control efficacy (yield response) declined the most: 78% (18%) to 54% (8%) from 2004–05 to 2013–14. The recent surge of resistant populations of Phakopsora pachyrhizi to both demethylation inhibitor and quinone outside inhibitor fungicides is likely the driving force behind a significant decline after 4 years of fungicide use