Are there soybean resistant varieties?
Yes, there are varieties that are resistant to ASR in China and Taiwan. However, a resistant variety that can be grown in the United States has not yet been found. Researchers at the U.S. research lab in Ft. Dietrich, Maryland have been studying the disease for 30 years and are still looking for a resistant variety. The disease traveled from Japan to China and then to Africa and was first found in South America in 2001. Best estimates say it will be 6 to 10 years commercial varieties will be available in the United States. The good news is that much groundwork has been done. Partial resistance and yield stability are likely to be the most effective resistance strategies. Varieties with partial resistance will likely have fewer lesions (spots) that have a reduced number of spores per plant. Planting varieties with resistance to rust pathogens has been very successful in managing rust in wheat and corn and is expected to be a successful approach with Asian soybean rust.
