Shaik Abdul Salam and Ande Aruna Kumari

False smut of rice caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (Cooke), has become increasing concern in majority of rice growing areas around the world as epidemics have been reported lately. The fungus infects the plants during boot leaf stage and the symptoms are apparent only at grain formation stage converting the grains into spore balls and makes them unfit for consumption and seed production. With the increase in disease incidence and severity, yield losses have been increasing significantly. Heavy application of nitrogenous fertilizers, mono cropping of susceptible rice varieties are aggravating the repeated occurrence of the disease. It calls for emphasis on development of novel disease management strategies to contain the spread of this disease. This review summarizes the present status of the disease, biology and spread of the pathogen and various management strategies of false smut in rice.

Pages: 1913-1916  |  551 Views  183 Downloads