Assessing and mapping the severity of false smut of rice in different rice ecosystems of Karnataka

Abstract

A roving survey was carried out during Kharif 2017 and 2018 in different rice growing ecosystems of Karnataka to assess the severity of false smut of rice. The results revealed that, the mean disease severity ranged from 4.15 to 19.26 per cent and 4.16 to 17.30 per cent during Kharif 2017 and 2018, respectively among different ecosystems. The maximum disease severity was recorded in coastal ecosystem (18.59% and 19.26%) followed by hilly upland ecosystem during Kharif 2017 and 2018. Among the different taluks surveyed in different rice ecosystem, Udupi taluk of coastal ecosystem recorded the maximum disease severity of 22.99 and 21.42 per cent, respectively during Kharif 2017 and 2018. Whereas the least disease severity was recorded by Siruguppa taluk (2.00%) of Tungabhadra and Upper Krishna project area during 2017 and Pandavapura taluk of irrigated Kaveri ecosystem in Kharif 2018. The present study clearly revealed the variability of false smut of rice in different ecosystems and different taluks of Karnataka with different degrees of disease severity. The present generated information would help to develop appropriate management strategies under different ecosystems to reduce the severity of false smut of rice.