Fungicide Spraying Programs Reducing Asian Soybean Rust Impact on Soybean Yield Components

Abstract

Soybean is one of the leading agricultural commodities, and Brazil is currently the largest producer globally. Despite this, fungal diseases as Asian Soybean Rust (ASR) are among the primary limiters of high crop yields in Brazilian fields. Losses caused by the biotrophic fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi can reach up to 90%, depending on weather conditions, and several components can be affected during soybean growth and reproduction. Here, we assessed fungicide spraying programs to ASR control, aiming to reduce the losses on soybean components. The experiments were performed under field conditions during the harvest season 2014/2015. The evaluated variables were soybean leaf area index, ASR severity, yield components, dry mass grain accumulation, protein, and oil content. The yield components assessed were the number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, seeds per plant, and thousand-grain weight. The disease severity gradient was generated using seven fungicide spraying programs, differing in time, number, and type of fungicides. Three fungicide programs that included applications in the soybean vegetative and reproductive stages were more efficient. These programs resulted in the lower area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), greater leaf area duration (LAD), and health leaf area duration (HAD) than the untreated soybean. The ASR infection in soybean resulted in reduced LAD and HAD, and as a consequence, interfered negatively with dry matter accumulation, yield components, and grain yield.