Restless leaf rust

For the first time since it was introduced in Nigeria almost one hundred years ago, soybean cultivation in Nigeria has been seriously hit by a leaf rust disease, this time caused by the fungus Phakospora pachyrhizi. Losses in the south-western region are as high as 80%. The leaf rust was first discovered on the African continent in South Africa, in March 2001, and has also affected Zimbabwe. The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria have launched a search for resistant soybean lines. NCRI PMB 8, Niger State, Nigeria Fax: +234 46 46 234For the first time since it was introduced in Nigeria almost one hundred years ago, soybean cultivation in Nigeria has been seriously hit by a leaf rust disease, this time caused by the fungus Phakospora pachyrhizi. Losses in the south-western..