RICE DISEASES, SYMPTOMS,

PREVENTIVE AND CONTROL MEASURES

 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPECIES OF
CULTIVATED RICE IN THE WORLD:

1. ORYZA SATIVA ( Asian Rice)

2. ORYZA GLABERRIMA ( African Rice)
ASIAN AND AFRICAN RICE PLANTS ARE
MORPHOLOGICALLY VERY SIMILAR AND
CAN BE DIFFICULT TO TELL APART.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE PRONE TO

DISEASES.
HERE ARE THE EXAMPLES OF RICE DISEASES:

Bacterial Blight
(BACTERIUM)
SYMPTOMS:
*Water-soaked stripes on leaf blades
*Yellow or white stripes on leaf blades
*Leaves appear grayish in color
*Plants wilting and rolling up
*Leaves turning yellow
*Stunted plants
*Plant death
*Youngest leaf on plant turning yellow

HOW TO CONTROL?
Bacterial blight can be effectively controlled by planting
resistant rice varieties; avoid excessive nitrogen
fertilization; plow stubble and straw into soil after
harvest.
Bacterial Leaf Streak(BACTERIUM)
SYMPTOMS:
*Small, water-soaked streaks between leaf veins which are initially dark green
and then turn translucent.
*Streaks grow larger.
*Coalesce and turn light brown in color.
*Tiny beads of yellow colored bacterial exudate are common on the surface of
the streaks.
*Leaves turn brown and then gray-white in color before they die

HOW TO CONTROL?

Control of bacterial leaf streak is dependent on the use of resistant rice varieties
and on planting of treated seed.
Bakanae(FUNGUS)
SYMPTOMS:
*Seedlings are elongated, slender and pale.
*Seedlings are stunted and chlorotic.
*Death of seedlings.
*Abnormal elongation of older plants which often makes them visible as they
grow taller than uninfected plants in the field.
*Sterile plants which do not produce panicles or produce empty panicles.

HOW TO CONTROL?
Treating seeds with appropriate fungicides prior to planting can be very
effective at controlling the disease; less susceptible rice varieties should be
grown in areas where fungicide-treated seed is not available.
Brown Spot (FUNGUS)
SYMPTOMS:
*Circular, brown lesions on seedlings.
*Distorted primary and/or secondary leaves on seedlings.
*Black discoloration of roots.
*Death of seedlings.
*Circular or oval lesions with gray center and reddish-brown margin on older
plants.
*Death of large areas of leaves.
*Brown or black spots on grain.
*Reduce number of grains.
*Reduced kernel weight.

H0W TO CONTROL?
Ensure plants are provided with correct nutrients and avoid water stress;
chemicals seed treatment are effective at reducing the incidence of the disease.
Grassy Stunt (VIRUS)
SYMPTOMS:
*Stunted plant.
*Short, narrow pale green or yellow leaves.
*Mottled or stripes pattern on newly unfolded leaves.
*Few or no panicles produced.

HOW TO CONTROL?
*Several varieties of rice resistant to the leaf hopper vectors have been
developed but the insects have overcome the resistance in several countries.
*Application of appropriate insecticides can help to reduce populations of
vectors in temperate regions.
TUNGRO(VIRUS)
SYMPTOMS:
*Plants are stunted with a yellow-orange discoloration.
*Plants may have a reduced number of tillers and a rust colored spots on leaves.
*Leaves may be mottled, striped or exhibit interveinal necrosis.

HOW TO CONTROL?
*Rice varieties resistant to Tungro virus
Have been developed and control the disease successfully.
*Intense cultivation has led to the breakdown of the resistance by some virulent
Leafhopper strains.