Rice

Leaf Scald of Rice

Monographella albescens

Fungus

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In a Nutshell

  • Light, water-soaked damage on leaves - start from leaf tip.
  • Damages enlarge, scalding leaf blade.
  • Wilting of leaves.

Can also be found in

1 Crops
Rice

Rice

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with leaf scald vary according to the stage of growth, variety and plant density. In most cases, grey-green, water-soaked lesions start to develop on the tips or edges of leaf. Later, the lesions spread and produce a ringed pattern of light tan and dark brown starting from the leaf tips or the edges. The continuous enlargement of lesions result in blighting of a large part of the leaf blade. The affected areas dry out, giving the leaf a scalded appearance. In some countries, lesions rarely develop the ringed pattern and only the scalding symptom is evident.

Recommendations

Organic Control

No alternative treatment has been found so far against this disease.

Chemical Control

Always consider an integrated approach with preventive measures together with biological treatments if available. The use of thiophanate-methyl in a seed-soak treatment reduced infection by M. albescens. In the field, foliar sprays with fungicides based on mancozeb, thiophanate methyl @1.0g/l or copper oxychloride significantly reduce the incidence and severity of leaf scald. Combinations of these chemicals are also effective.

What caused it?

Disease development usually occurs late in the season on mature leaves and is favored by wet weather, high nitrogen fertilization, and close spacing. Rates of nitrogen above 40 kg/ha and above result in a greater incidence of leaf scald. It develops faster in affected than in unaffected leaves. The sources of infection are seeds and crop stubbles from previous harvest. To differentiate leaf scald from leaf blight, immerse cut leaves in clear water for 5−10 minutes; if no ooze comes out, then it is leaf scald.

Preventive Measures

  • When available, use resistant varieties.
  • Increase the spacing between plants during transplanting.
  • Keep the silicon levels in soil high to reduce the incidence of the disease and get higher yields.
  • Avoid excessive rates of nitrogen during the fertilization of your crop.
  • Split applications of nitrogen during the tillering stage.
  • Remove weeds in and around the field.
  • Plow under rice stubbles and remove infected rice ratoons.

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