False Smut Disease in Paddy – A Hidden Threat to Grain Quality and Yield скачать в хорошем качестве

False Smut Disease in Paddy – A Hidden Threat to Grain Quality and Yield

False Smut is an emerging fungal disease in paddy caused by Ustilaginoidea virens. It infects rice grains during the flowering and panicle stages, turning them into greenish or orange smut balls. This not only reduces yield but also lowers the quality and market value of rice. The disease spreads rapidly under humid, cloudy, and nitrogen-rich conditions. To manage it effectively, farmers should avoid excess nitrogen fertilizers, maintain field sanitation, and apply recommended fungicides such as Tebuconazole, Propiconazole, or Nativo at the early panicle initiation stage. Integrated disease management and the use of resistant rice varieties are key to minimizing losses and ensuring healthy crops. 🌾