Can winds carry the rust from South America to the United States?
A recent study indicates that the chances for viable spores to move by wind directly from South America are very small. Using computer-modeling approaches, scientists (climatologists at St. Louis University and plant pathologists at Iowa State University) showed that viable spores released from South America were far from reaching this country. For the rust to be successfully introduced, rust spores have to land on green leaves of host plants. Therefore, due to the fact that the growing season in Brazil is our winter, direct introduction by wind is quite unlikely. What about land bridging? Land bridging is considered a more likely natural pathway in the northward movement of soybean rust. Keep in mind that besides natural pathways, rust can also be introduced by other means, such as accidental introduction by tourists, spore-carrying materials, or intentional means. Will rust show up this season in North America? If all the potential means for introducing the disease are considered, it
