Date: March 29, 2007
From: The Hindu [edited]
<http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/29/stories/2007032908040400.htm>
Alarming increase in minor pests causes crop wilting in many
parts of Hyderabad
Stem-rot disease hits paddy crop in East Godavari
(northeast of Andhra Pradesh state, India)
Significant climate changes over the past few years have led to
'alarming' increase in the hitherto minor or unknown pests that
are causing wilting and other effects on the crops in different
parts of the State. For instance, a paddy crop in over 45 000
hectares in East Godavari district was infected by stem-rot
disease in just 3 days during the previous season.
"There is no alternative but to burn the affected plants to
ensure that the disease does not spread to others," agriculture
commissioner Poonam Malakondaiah said. Addressing a press
conference here on Wed
[28 Mar 2007], she said the introduction of genetically modified
(GM) crops, engineered for a specific trait, was also resulting
in new pest problems. This called for a regular monitoring and
surveillance system to know the status of pests, which was a
prerequisite for effective implementation of integrated pest
management.
The department was planning to take up awareness programmes on
the new pests during the Rythu Chaitanya Yatras between 16 Apr
and 5 May [2007] wherein farmers would be educated on different
aspects of crops and cropping pattern. In addition, it was
decided to prepare village agriculture action plans by 5 Apr
[2007] and strengthen pest surveillance mechanism in every
district through the seed testing labs to test genetic purity of
the seeds.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
[Stem Rot is caused by the fungus Sclerotium oryzae. It
occurs in circular to irregular areas in fields and causes
premature death and lodging of the plants. Stalks weaken at the
water line and then break, making harvest difficult. Plants
infected early yield poorly, and a high percentage of plants is
killed. Control measures include crop rotation, use of early
maturing varieties, fluctuating the flood water level, avoiding
excessive rates of nitrogen, and rice stubble destruction. Some
fungicides help to suppress this disease but are not highly
effective.
Pictures of symptoms are at:
<http://www.msstate.edu/dept/drec/rice/stem_rot/stem_rot.htm>
A description of the disease is at:
<http://plantpathology.tamu.edu/Texlab/Grains/Rice/ricesr.html>
- Mod.DHA]
[Locator map of East Godavari ion the coast of Andhra Pradesh
state at:
<http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/8/83/475px-Map_AP_dist_all_shaded.png>
- Mod.JW]
[see also
in the
archive:
2002
----
Stem rot, rice - Australia 20020826.5152]
