Seedling Blight and Seed Decay Symptoms on Rice
Seedling Blight and Seed Decay (fungus - Bipolaris oryzae,
Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia solani, Achlya sp. and
Sclerotium rolfsii): Seedling diseases cause spotty,
irregular stands through seed decay, pre-emergence and post
emergence disease. Seedling disease complex results from activity
of various kinds of fungi, most of which grow on the kernels or hulls of seed rice or
on soil organic matter. Fungi enter germinating rice seed or young seedlings and either
injure or kill them. If infected seedlings emerge from the soil, they often
die. Those that manage to survive are weakened and chlorotic in
appearance. Damage is most severe on early seeded rice (late
February and March) and deeply planted rice. Control measures
include the use of high quality seed, an approved seed
treatment, shallow seeding of early planted rice, and planting
into warm soil.
February, 1996
