Vol. 11, Special Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
S Navarasu, EG Ebenezar, K Eraivan Arutkani Aiyanathan, B Jeberlin Prabina and N Rajinimala

Abstract:
Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most important staple inevitable food crop of the world population. The rice production is hindered by many biotic and abiotic factors. In the recent years, the rice false smut disease is gaining importance in Tamil Nadu state of India, because of its widespread nature. Due to false smut disease, the rice grain yield loss may go up to 50 percent. An intensive survey was conducted in the present study in major rice growing areas during the year 2021-2022 to assess the incidence of false smut disease in Tamil Nadu. The rice false smut incidence ranged from 1.36 to 36.36 per cent and the disease severity ranged between 1.08-379.23 per cent. The higher false smut disease incidence (36.36%) and severity (379.23%) was observed in Thundumainyam village of Salem district and the minimum disease incidence (1.36%) and disease severity (1.08%) was recorded in Killikulam, Vallanad village of Tamil Nadu.