Alternative products on Asian soybean rust control and their influence on defoliation, productivity and yield components

Abstract

ABSTRACT To study the efficiency of Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) control and to test the effects of using alternative products and fungicides, two field experiments were conducted during the harvest seasons 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Treatments for the experiments were: 1- control (water); 2- acibenzolar-S-methyl; 3- calcium; 4- micronutrients: copper, manganese and zinc; 5- micronutrients: manganese, zinc and molybdenum; 6- NK fertilizer; 7- Ascophyllum nodosum, and 8- azoxystrobin + cyproconazole. The evaluated variables were: Asian soybean rust severity, defoliation, productivity and yield components. Based on severity data, the area under the disease progress curve was calculated. In the two experiments, the alternative products had no effect on Asian soybean rust or defoliation. Only the treatment with fungicide controlled the disease and decreased defoliation. The yield component affected by the treatments was the number of pods per plant, in both harvest seasons. Treatment with the fungicide protected soybean from yield loss in both experiments. Defoliation was strongly correlated with the weight of one thousand seeds and the number of pods per plant, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the leaf area to ensure the maintenance of the yield components in soybean crop.