Experts train inspectors and students to identify the Asian soybean rust fungus.

Correctly identifying the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, which causes Asian soybean rust, one of the most severe diseases and with the greatest economic impact on the crop, was the focus of the workshop held on Thursday (25) by the Department of Agricultural Diagnosis and Research (DDPA) of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation (Seapi).

The training brought together state agricultural inspectors from the Department of Plant Protection (DDV) and students from the Agronomy course at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), a partner in the program. The activity is part of the actions of the Monitora Ferrugem RS Program, an initiative that works to monitor and prevent the disease in the state.

Coordinated by DDPA researcher Andréia Mara Rotta de Oliveira and led by Professor Caroline Wesp Guterres, from the Department of Plant Health at UFRGS, the workshop combined theory and practice. Participants received detailed information about the characteristics of the pathogen, with emphasis on differentiating it from other fungi that attack soybeans. Following this, they carried out practical identification activities in the DDPA's Plant Pathology laboratory.

According to Andréia, the objective was to prepare professionals and future agronomists to quickly recognize the first signs of Asian soybean rust, contributing to the effectiveness of monitoring actions. The official start of field activities for the Monitora Ferrugem RS Program is scheduled for October 6th.