How does Asian soybean rust rob yield?
The rust fungus starts as a spore that germinates in water on a leaf. The resulting fungal germ tube can enter through stomates or directly penetrate a leaf cell where it continues to grow through leaf tissue. Initially, infection appears as a light area on the leaf (usually the underside). Eventually, leaf tissue is killed, resulting in lesions. The lesions reduce yield by destroying photosynthetic area. The fungus also diverts water and nutrients from the soybean plant compounding photosynthetic losses.
