Authors
E. J. Sikora, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn 36849;
T. W. Allen, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Delta Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Stoneville 38776;
K. A. Wise, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette 47907;
G. Bergstrom, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853;
C. A. Bradley, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801;
J. Bond, Department of Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901;
D. Brown-Rytlewski and
M. Chilvers, Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824;
J. Damicone, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078;
E. DeWolf, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506;
A. Dorrance, Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Wooster 44691;
N. Dufault, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611;
P. Esker, Escuela de Agronomia, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica 10111;
T. R. Faske, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas Lonoke Research and Extension Center, Lonoke 72086;
L. Giesler, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln 68508;
N. Goldberg, Department of Plant Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces 88003;
J. Golod, Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802;
I. R. G. Gómez, Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiologica Fitosanitaria, Centro Nacional de Referenceia Fitosanitaria, Col. Del Carmen, Coyoacan, Mexico;
C. Grau, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706;
A. Grybauskas, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Management, University of Maryland, College Park 20742;
G. Franc, Deceased;
R. Hammerschmidt, Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824;
G. L. Hartman, United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Urbana 61801;
R. A. Henn, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State 39762;
D. Hershman, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, Princeton 42445;
C. Hollier, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803;
T. Isakeit, Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843;
S. Isard, Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802;
B. Jacobsen, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717;
D. Jardine, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506;
R. Kemerait, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Tifton 31793;
S. Koenning, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695;
M. Langham, Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007;
D. Malvick, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108;
S. Markell, Department of Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58108;
J. J. Marois, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611;
S. Monfort, Edisto Research and Education Center, Clemson University, Blackville 29817;
D. Mueller, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011;
J. Mueller, Edisto Research and Education Center, Clemson University, Blackville 29817;
R. Mulrooney, Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Delaware, Newark 19716;
M. Newman, BASF Corporation, Jackson, TN 38301;
L. Osborne, Dupont Pioneer, Brookings, SD 57007;
G. B. Padgett, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803;
B. E. Ruden, South Dakota Wheat Growers Association, Aberdeen 57401;
J. Rupe, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701;
R. Schneider, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803;
H. Schwartz, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523;
G. Shaner, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette 47907;
S. Singh, Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Kimberly 83341;
E. Stromberg, Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061;
L. Sweets, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211;
A. Tenuta, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and Ministry of Rural Affairs, Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada, NOP2CO;
S. Vaiciunas, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Trenton 08625;
X. B. Yang, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011;
H. Young-Kelly, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee West Tennessee Research and Education Center, Jackson 38301; and
J. Zidek, ZedX Incorporated, Bellefonte, PA 16823
Abstract
Existing crop monitoring programs determine the incidence and distribution of
plant diseases and pathogens and assess the damage caused within a crop
production region. These programs have traditionally used observed or predicted
disease and pathogen data and environmental information to prescribe management
practices that minimize crop loss. Monitoring programs are especially important
for crops with broad geographic distribution or for diseases that can cause
rapid and great economic losses. Successful monitoring programs have been
developed for several plant diseases, including downy mildew of cucurbits,
Fusarium head blight of wheat, potato late blight, and rusts of cereal crops. A
recent example of a successful disease-monitoring program for an economically
important crop is the soybean rust (SBR) monitoring effort within North America.
SBR, caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, was first identified in
the continental United States in November 2004. SBR causes moderate to severe
yield losses globally. The fungus produces foliar lesions on soybean (Glycine
max) and other legume hosts. P. pachyrhizi diverts nutrients from the
host to its own growth and reproduction. The lesions also reduce photosynthetic
area. Uredinia rupture the host epidermis and diminish stomatal regulation of
transpiration to cause tissue desiccation and premature defoliation. Severe
soybean yield losses can occur if plants defoliate during the mid-reproductive
growth stages. The rapid response to the threat of SBR in North America resulted
in an unprecedented amount of information dissemination and the development of a
real-time, publicly available monitoring and prediction system known as the
Soybean Rust-Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (SBR-PIPE).
The objectives of this article are (i) to highlight the successful response
effort to SBR in North America, and (ii) to introduce researchers to the
quantity and type of data generated by SBR-PIPE. Data from this system may now
be used to answer questions about the biology, ecology, and epidemiology of an
important pathogen and disease of soybean.
