Pest science and management

An unusual rice false smut epidemic reported in

Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh, India
A.K. Singh and D.J. Pophaly, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Boirdadar, Raigarh,
Chhattisgarh, India E-mail: singh_ajit8@yahoo.co.in

False smut (FSm), caused by the fungal pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens (Cooks)
Takahashi, affects rice panicles. A survey was carried out in October 2007 in
Chhattisgarh to assess the extent of FSm infestation. More than 600 ha were
severely affected by FSm. Late-sown rice varieties such as Swarna, Tapaswani,
Komal, and Culture 64 grown in lowland areas showed unprecedented levels of
FSm injury (see table). The pathogen invades the aerial parts of the plant and
reproduces when conditions are favorable. The observed epidemic, though
sporadic and limited geographically, was devastating. The percentage of infected
panicles ranged from 16.8 to 40.7, each usually bearing 5 to 12 smut balls (with
an average of eight balls per panicle; see figure). Rice variety Tapaswani was the
most severely affected. The minimum and maximum temperature ranges
recorded in October 2007 were 23–25 oC and 30–32 oC, respectively. Intermittent
rains in September and October (at flowering stage) and the associated increased
humidity probably favored the disease. No management practice provided
disease control. This epidemic demonstrates the need for regular monitoring of
FSm in the future.
False smut is reported in most rice-growing areas of the world (Mehrotra
1990). The disease was also reported in the USA (Rush et al 2000). First observed
in 1997 in the Nile Delta of Egypt, the disease was again noted in 2001 and 2002.
Some common rice weeds such as Echinochloa crus-galli and Imperata cylindrica
may serve as secondary hosts for the pathogen (Atia 2004). Before 2005, FSm was
not considered a major disease of rice in India.
In Tamil Nadu, for example, FSm was once considered a minor rice
disease; it is now regarded as a serious disease (Hindu 2008), with 44% grain loss
attributed to it (Singh and Dubey 1978). The conversion of individual grains into
smut balls is associated with increased sterility of the florets (Chib et al 1992).
The disease is not usually considered seedborne. Rangaswami and Mahadevan
(2004) could not report successful artificial floral inoculation; however, this was
reported by Shu Wang et al (2008). More in-depth studies on this disease are
urgently needed.

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International Rice Research Notes (0117-4185)
 Pest science and management

Intensity of false smut infestation, Chhattisgarh, India.

Land form Variety Crop Temperature Relative humidity Rainfall FSm inidence
establishment range (°C, min (%, min and max, range (mm) (% of
date and max, Sep- Sep-Oct) (Sep-Oct) infected
Oct) panicles)
Upland Swarna 18–51 16.8
Komal 23–25 (min) 56.57–72.14 20.6
Lowland Swarna 5-15 Jul (min) 32.5
Swarna 25 Jul-10 Aug 38.8
Komal 30–32 (max) 85.14–92.85 38.8
Culture 64 5-15 Jul (max) 27.7
Culture 64 Last week of 40.7
Aug
CD at 0.05 5.08

Rice panicles infected with false smut, Chhattisgarh, India.

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References
Atia MMM. 2004. Rice false smut (Ustilaginoidea virens) in Egypt. J. Plant Dis.
Prot. 111:71-82.
Chib HS, Tikko ML, Kalha GS, Gupta BR, Singh SK, Raina PK. 1992. Effect of
false smut on yield of rice. Indian J. Mycol. Plant Pathol. 22:278-280.
Hindu. 2008. Management of false smut infestation in paddy. 25 Sep 2008 issue.
Mehrotra RS. 1990. Plant pathology. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing
Co. Ltd. 443 p.
Rangaswami G, Mahadevan A. 2004. Disease of plants in India. New Delhi:
Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd. 182 p.
Rush MC, Shahjahan AKM, Jones JP. 2000. Outbreak of false smut of rice in
Louisiana. Plant Dis. 84:100.
Shu Wang, Min Li Hai, Dong Xiao, Zhou Liu, Yuan Jun Bai, Hao Yang. 2008.
Sporulation, inoculation methods and pathogenicity of Ustilaginales
albicans, the cause of white rice false smut in China. J. Phytopathol.
156:755-757.
Singh RA, Dubey KS. 1978. Assessment of loss in several rice cultivars due to
false smut. Indian Phytopathol. 31:186-188.

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