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General Information Field Preparation and Sowing | Nutrient Management | Water and Irrigation | Weed Manag
• About Us Disease Management | Harvesting | Post Harvesting | Miscellaneous
• Organization Setup
• Government Farms
• List of VLWs Disease management:
• Policies & Reforms The major diseases in Sikkim are blast, brown spot, bacterial leaf blight, bacteria
• Agricultural Legislation sheath blight, etc.
• Notification
• Circular Blast disease of paddy ( Pyricularia Oryzae )
• Planning
Allied Agencies
• ICAR
• NHB
• NRCO
• NABARD
• NGO
• Spices Board
• Sikkim Cooperative
• Tea Board

Blast disease of rice (Pyricularia grisea): Rice blast or ‘rotten neck’ is not only one o
known plant disease but also one of the most widely spread disease in every region
where rice is grown. It is known to occur in at lest 80 countries, being especial
humid areas.

Symptoms:
On the leaves the symptoms first appear as small, bluish flecks, about 1-3 mm in
older leaves, they may remain circular but on young leaves, they enlarge up
centimeters long and 1 cm broad. The lesions bear a grey or dark brown margin
green or dull greyish green water soaked central portion which later turn grey or str
 Similar spots are formed on the leaf sheath.

Brown to black spots are formed on the rachis of the maturing inflorescence. Ear
similar spots. Neck blast occurs with the infection initiating at the node below the e
brown to black lesions which may cover the entire stem. The neck infection results in
ears with production of chaffy or partially filled grains. This stage of the dis
maximum damage.

Integrated management:
a. The field should be free from weed which acts as host.
b. Field sanitation should be followed.
c. Early planted crop shows less disease than late sown crop.
d. Rotation with non-cereal crop may help in reduction of inoculum.
e. Seeds treatment with bio-fertilizers.
f. Application of Trichoderma and neem-cake at the ratio of 1:10 in the nursery bed fo
of the disease.
g. Spray Pseudomonas solution.

Brown spot of rice (Helminthosporium oryzae):

The disease is a major problem occurring almost in all the rice growing areas of t
India, it occurs more or less every year in mild or severe form, occasionally as an e
damage to the crop results from poor germination of seed, leaf spot causing genera
of the plant and poor grain setting and infection of grain making them unsuitable for
Symptoms: The symptom appears on the coleoptile, leaves, the leaf sheath, a
glumes. On the coleoptile the spots are brown, small, and circular in nature. They ra
form of long streaks and there is no foot-rot of seedlings.
On the leaves the spots vary in size and shape from minute dots too circular, eye sh
spots. They are distinct and isolated, usually scattered over the leaf surface. The s
are brown or purplish in color at the edge but towards the centre they may be pale
white, brown, or grey. Sometimes the spots are surrounded by a yellow halo and m
and become irregular in shape. Badly affected leaves turn brown and dry out. Simil
appear on the leaf sheath as leaves.
In early and severe attack the heads fail to emerge from the sheath and pe
development. When heads emerge they are distorted. Lesions on the heads first a
 near the lowest joints of the rachis. Black spots appear on the glumes. The seeds ar
shriveled and discoloured.
Integrated management:
a. The stubbles should be burnt after crop harvest where the disease incidence is sever
b. Possible weed host like Setaria, Leersia, Echinocloa, etc should be removed or the
should be kept at minimum level.
c. If irrigated crop, the run off water from badly infested fields to healthy fields should
d. Seed treatment with hot water at 550 C for 10 minutes gives effective control of the
e. Grow resistant varieties like CH 13, CH 45, T-141, T-298-2A, Co 20, BAM 10, T-998
T-960 etc. Padma and IR-24 are relatively resistant and should be grown in ep
Moderate resistant varieties are Bajarbang, Gajraj, Ghagharia, Juhi Bengal
Shyamjira, Sugapankhi and Tulsi Prasad.
f. Bio-control: Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride is reported to control
satisfactorily.

Sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani):

The disease has been known since 1910 in the East and South East Asian count
considered a minor leaf disease. However, it is now a serious problem world wide ca
losses in both temperate and tropical rice producing countries.
Symptoms: Lesions are formed on the sheath and culm at the water level. The spot
sheath are first ellipsoid or ovoid, about 10 mm long and greenish grey in colou
enlarge and may reach 2-3 cm in length and become irregular in outline. The centre
becomes white with brown or purplish margins depending on the host variety.
Outer leaves may fall off, plant look yellow and may ultimately wilt. In favoura
conditions, infection may spread up to the culm, killing the entire leaves. On the s
lesions and sometimes on the inner surface of the sheath and on the culm, brownis
of mycelium are present.
Integrated management:
a. The field should be free from weed which acts as host.
b. Rotation with non-cereal crop may help in reduction of inoculum.
c. Field should be free from previous year’s crop debris. d) A spacing of 30 x 30 cm2
cm2 gives the best control (Srinivasan, 1980).
d. Seeds treatment with bio-fertilizers.
e. Application of Trichoderma and neem-cake at the ratio of 1:10 in the nursery bed fo
of the disease.
f. Bio-control: Application of Trichoderma harzianum as soil, seed and seedling treat
the disease effectively.
Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae):

BLB of rice is among most important diseases, particularly in South-West Asia. Lo

from 6% to 60% have been reported in India. The rapid spread of the disease to
parts of the country was attributed to the introduction of highly susceptible var
Native 1.
The disease is a typical vascular wilt, leaf blight being only the mild phase. Damag
partial or total blighting of leaves or due to complete wilting of the affected tillers
formation of unfilled grains. In the wilt or kresek phase, the crop may dry up comp
seed maturation. If the attack is late, the loss in yield may be negligible.
Symptoms: Symptoms of the disease vary considerable with the stage of infec
prevailing weather conditions. Leaf blight phase is most commonly seen. This phase
characterized by linear, yellow to straw coloured stripes with wavy margins, gene
edges of the leaf, rarely on one edge. These stripes usually start from the tip
downwards. This is followed by drying and twisting of the leaf tip and rapid e
marginal blight lengthwise and crosswise to cover large areas of the leaf. Milk
bacterial exudates is observed in morning hours when relative humidity is high and
bead like encrustations.
The blighting may extend to the leaf sheath and culms, killing the tillers. The blight p
appears 4-6 weeks after transplanting.
The most destructive form of the disease in the tropics is “Kresek” or wilt phase re
early systemic infection or from infected seed and the bacterium brought in
germinating seedlings. The leaves roll completely, droop, turn yellow or grey and u
tillers wither away. In severe cases, the infected shoot may be completely killed.
affected tillers can easily be confused with stem borer injury. In case of stem bore
tillers can be pulled out easily while it is not so with kresek-affected tillers.
Integrated management:
a. Field should be free from previous year’s crop debris.
b. Growing tolerant varieties like IR-20, IR-22 and Ratna.
c. Rotation with non-cereal crop may help in reduction of inoculum.
d. Uprooting and burning of the infected plant from the field so as to check the furth
the disease.
e. Hot water treatment of seeds at 500 C for 20 minutes make the seeds free from bac
In severe cases, Subject Matter Specialist (SMS), Department of agriculture, Gov
may be consulted for line of actions.
Insect pest management: The major insect pests in Sikkim are stem borer, leaf fo
bug, leaf hopper, rats etc. which reduce the total grain yield significantly. The natur
of different insect pests with their management practices are given below:
Rice Leaf Folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis):

Damage: The caterpillars fold the leaves longitudinally and feed within the leaves. 4
Symptoms of attack:
They fasten the edges of a leaf together and live inside the fold. Feeding reduces pr
area that affects plant growth. Cloudy and humid weather, shady locations , closer
high N-fertilizer favour pest build up. Infestation is more in maximum tillering stage.
Rice Gundhi-bug (Leptocorisa oratorius):

It is a sporadic (minor) pest of rice found all over India. The adult bug is long slend
brown in colour having long legs.
Damage: The damage is done both by the adults and the nymphs due to their
habit. Although they feed on all parts of the plant, they prefer the grain at the milky
Symptoms of attack: Leaves attacked turn yellow and later rusted, the symptom
 from the tip downwards. Numerous brownish spots caused by punctures also ap
feeding sites. Green discolouration is caused by subsequent infections of pathoge
bacteria on the sucking injuries. Grains sucked upon shrivel and in case of heavy inf
whole earhead may become devoid of mature grains. The straw gives off-fla
unattractive to cattle.
Green Leaf Hopper (Nephotettix nigropictus):
Occurs in all rice growing areas of the country. The adults are small (about 5mm
coloured hoppers with two minute conspicuous black spots on the forewings.
Damage: The damage is caused by both nymphs and adults by sucking plant sap.
Symptoms of damage: The leaves turn yellowish at some places first and late all o
tips drying up. Plants lose their vigour, seedlings die and older plants may recove
transmit some viral diseases including tungro virus to the paddy plants.
Rice Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas):
Damage:
The stem borers cause damage to rice crop throughout the growth period. Affected
characteristic symptoms of dead heart or white ears depending on the crop stage
stage, the infestation results in dead hearts due to larval feeding within the stem,
the vascular system. White ears damage caused after flowering when causes the e
to dry.
Symptoms of attack: Broad longitudinal whitish discoloration on the leaf surface
larval feeding during the first instar stage. Apical part of the plants may g
consumption of its inner material. Deadhearts, white (grainless) heads, wilted
shoots) and weak plants that can easily be pulled out are some other symptoms of a
pest.
Control Measures of insect pests: The following measures should be taken to
minimize the population of insects below economic threshold level:
a. Grow resistant varieties.
b. Deep ploughing, trimming of bunds, destruction of crop residues.
c. Timely sown.
d. Proper water management.
e. Release of Trichogramma @ 50000 numbers/ha.
f. Spray neem based formulation of 1500 ppm @ 4 ml/litre of water or Bt. @ 0.5 gm/li
g. Set up light trap.
h. The stem borer, population can be managed by utilizing egg parasitoids, Trichgramm
and Trichgramma chilonis @ 50,000/ha. Parasitoids are to be released 7-8 times s
30 days of transplanting.
i. For leaf hoppers of rice, the egg predator, Crytorhinus lividipennis is a suitable meas
j. Installation of sex pheromone trap@ 16-20 traps/ha for yellow stem borer.

Introduction | Climatic Requirement | Soil Requirement | Cropping System

Field Preparation and Sowing | Nutrient Management | Water and Irrigation | Weed Manag
Disease Management | Harvesting | Post Harvesting | Miscellaneous
(C) Department of Agriculture. Govt. of Sikkim. All right reserved