Integrated management of false smut disease in rice under rice: Wheat cropping system

Abstract

False smut of rice produced by Ustilaginoidea virens (Cooke) Takahshi (Perfect state Villosiclava virens) is an emerging disease, decreases both quality and quantity of Rice crop. The symptoms of false smut diseases are observable after panicle initiation of rice crop. Infected individual grains converted into greenish spore ball of a velvety appearance; the surface of infected grains covered by a powdery dark green chlamydospores once matured. The present study is mainly adhered to evaluate prevailing integrated management modules elsewhere with suitable adjustments efficacious management of false smut. The results revealed that all treatments were significantly superior over the Control (T0). The treatments four (T3: Seed treatment with Vitavax Power (Carboxin + Thiram) @ 3 g/kg seed + spilt dose of nitrogen + two foliar sprays of Propiconazole- 25 SC @ 1.0 ml/lit. of water at tillering and 50% panicle emergence was found utmost effective in dropping False smut disease incidence (74.77%), increasing yield (32.03%), net return (Rs. 16269.15) and cost –benefit ratio (0.21) followed by T2 (Seed treatment with Tebuconazole- 2 DS @ 1 g/kg seed + spilt dose of nitrogen + one foliar spray of Trifloxystrobin-25% + Tebuconazole- 50% @ 0.4 g/lit. of water at tillering. Hence T4 may be recommended for sustainable management of rice false smut.