Asian soybean rust is a serious disease of soybeans caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Until fairly recently the disease did not occur on soybeans in the western hemisphere but it spread to South America in 2001.
According to Agro Debate, the occurrences of the disease rose from 265 to 461, accounting for this season's harvested soybeans. The incidences were recorded in 11 states, according to the Consortium of Anti-rust Embrapa.
The Rio Grande do Sul and Parana lead in disease cases with 115 and 112 events, respectively. Mato Grosso (106) and Goiás (69) follow also with high numbers of the disease.
Last season, from 265 incidents of Asian soybean rust, 108 were found in the fields of Goiás, and Mato Grosso reported 88 cases .
