BROWN LEAF SPOT OF RICE

Cochliobolus miyabeanus (formerly known as Helminthosporium oryzae) is a fungus that causes brown spot disease in rice. This disease was the causal agent of the Bengal famine of 1943.
Local name: Kandu, Chukke, Roga

Period of occurrence: Seedling to maturity
Extent of yield loss: 50-90% in extreme cases

Mode of transmission/ dissemination: wind
Sources of inoculum: Seed, Collateral hosts, Rice straw or Stubble

Hosts and symptoms 

Brown spot of rice is a plant fungal disease that usually occurs on the host leaves and glume, as well as seedlings, sheaths, stems and grains of adult host plants. Hosts include Oryzae sativa (Asian rice), Leersia (Cutgrass), Zizania (Wild rice), and other species as well such as Echinochloa colona (junglerice) and Zea mays (maize). Cochliobolus miyabeanus may cause a wide range of symptoms. General symptoms occurring on the hosts can be observed on many parts of the plant, including leaves, seeds, stems and inflorescences, along with the presence of brown spot. Discoloration of stems is another symptom develops from brown spot of rice disease. Oval-shaped brown spots are the fungal growth sign, which have grey colored center developed on host leaves. Also, lesions on glumes and seeds occur if the pathogen associates with other fungi and insects. Such lesions may develop when favorable condition for sporulation is present.
There are several factors influencing the disease cycle and epidemics of brown spot of rice disease.
1. Rainfall and drought - The first factor affecting Cochliobolus miyabeanus life cycle is rainfall and drought. It tends to proliferate when there is reduced rainfall and in dewy conditions. In addition to low level of precipitation, severe epidemic of rice brown spot occurs during drought season. Compared to well flooded or irrigated area, the disease occurrence was favored in drier environment where reduced amount of water was present.
2. Temperature and humidity - Another factor affecting disease development for Cochliobolus miyabeanus is temperature and humidity. Infection efficiency is influenced by humidity level of the leaves, and lowered minimum temperature for crop cultivation favors its epidemics. Cochliobolus miyabeanus grows well at lower temperatures during its developmental stages compared to the grown up stage, so if high temperature is maintained in the area it is likely that the farmers can restrict growth of the pathogen. The optimal temperature for the pathogen is 28 degrees Celsius.
3. Nutrition level - Nutrition of the host plant may also influence level of disease development. For example, soil fertility is associated with the epidemics of rice brown spot. If soil minerals such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, silicon and manganese are deficient, it is likely that the disease development is favored. In specific, in areas where silicon is present in high amount in the soil, the host becomes less susceptible to the disease because silicon not only alleviates physiological stresses of the host, but also generates disease resistance ability to the host. Furthermore, soil moisture level contributes to disease occurrence. Brown spot of rice is favored in areas where water level is low in soil.
Management of brown leaf spot of Rice
Preventive measures:
Use of resistant varieties  Rasi, IR 36, Jagannath.
Proper crop nutrition
Avoid water stress
Clean cultivation

Cultural practices:
Use disease free seeds for sowing.
Do not use high nitrogenous fertilizer
Use resistant variety Amruth
Chemical control:  If the disease observed in the field than spray 1g of ediphenphos or 2g mancozeb or 2.25g Zineb in 1liter of water.
KOLAWOLE MUIZ OPEYEMI
AEC/15/1368