Screening for resistance to false smut (Ustilaginoidea virens Takahashi) of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Although, false smut (Ustilaginoidea virens Takahashi) is considered as a minor disease, but yet it causes considerable losses to rice crop in certain years, particularly when crop growth is excellent. Incidence of false smut has been observed to be higher in rice hybrids. Manibhushan Rao [1] reported upto 28 per cent loss in rice grains due to this infection. Pal and Hassnain [2], Brahmachari and Kolte [3], Mohanty et al., [4] and Singh [5] reported associations of various plant morphological components with stem rust [Puccinia graminis tritici (Pers) Eriks and Henn.] in wheat, Cercospora leaf spot in groundnut, blast disease (Pyricularia oryzae Cav.) in rice and Alternaria blight in wheat, respectively. Such type of information is not available with respect to false smut in rice (Oryza sativa L.). This type of information will be helpful in the resistant breeding against this disease. The present article reports screening of rice cultures for resistance to false smut and the associations of the disease with different morphological characters of the crop.