Bakanae disease / foot rot: Gibberella fujikuroi

Symptoms :

• Infected plants several inches taller than normal plants in seedbed and field
• Thin plants with yellowish green leaves and pale green flag leaves
• Drying of seedlings at early tillering
• Reduced tillering and drying leaves at late infection
• Partially filled grains, sterile or empty grains for surviving plant at maturity
• In the seedbed, infected seedlings with lesions on roots will die, which may die before or after transplanting

• Fungus produces both macro and microconidia. Microconidia are hyaline, single celled and oval.
• Macroconidia are slightly sickle shaped, and two to five celled.
• The fungus produces the phytotoxin, fusaric acid, which is non-host specific.

Mode of Spread and Survival :

• The fungus is externally seed-borne.

Management:

• Treat the seeds with Thiram or Captan or Carbendazim at 2 g/kg.

Source of information:

• AICRIP rice, TNAU Coimbatore; Rice diseases- online resource, IRRI, Phillippines.

• IRRI, Phillippines

Acknowledgements: