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Rice blast, a fungal disease, on rice in Jumla district, Nepal

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A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>

Date: Wed 29 July 2009
Source: eKantipur.com/The Kathmandu Post [edited]
<http://www.ekantipur.com/kolnews.php?&nid=206786>

Rice blast decimates paddy fields

Chhumchaur Jiulo used to hold the distinction of being the highest place in the world where paddy was cultivated. Not anymore. Farmers of this place in Jumla district [Mid Western region] stopped growing paddy after their paddy fell prey to rice blast, a fungal disease.
Until 2006, rice was the main crop in Chhumchaur Jiulo, 850 metres [2789 ft] above sea level. But, say farmers, the officials did not take initiative to stamp out the disease.

A farmer said, "All of 440 families here used to cultivate paddy. But over the last 2 years, the blast has completely decimated our crops."
Even before the disease hit, the money the villagers made from rice harvests was barely enough to cover their living expenses for 6 months. "Agriculture experts had visited our fields. But they neither returned, nor prescribed any pesticide," said another farmer.

Deputy Director of the District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), Dor Bahadur Rayamajhi said his office didn't brush off the farmers. He said there are only 5 technical assistants who have to oversee some 30 communities in the district, and perhaps because of Chhumchaur Jiulo's remoteness they did not visit the area. More importantly, he said, none of the farmers sought counsel from DADO.

[Byline: Dev Kumar Sunuwar]

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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Rice blast is caused by the fungus _Magnaporthe grisea_ (synonyms _Pyricularia grisea_, _P. oryzae_) with potential yield losses of more than 50 percent. The fungus can affect leaves, neck, collar, and nodes. Spread occurs with infected plant material, by mechanical means, water, and wind. Disease management may include fungicides and cultural practices, but relies mainly on resistant varieties.
However, the fungus is highly variable and this favours the emergence of new strains with increased virulence. For more information on rice blast see links and previous posts below.

Jumla district is part of the Karnali Zone in the northwestern mountainous region, one of the most remote and poor regions in Nepal.
The report above illustrates the difficulties in providing extension support to these farmers, which would be vital for improving their level of food security.

Maps
Nepal:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/nepal_pol90.jpg>  and <http://healthmap.org/r/00Dv>  Nepal districts and municipalities:
<http://www.un.org.np/reports/maps/npcgis/NatBio00004.jpg>
Jumla district:
<http://ncthakur.itgo.com/districtmaps/jumla_district.htm>

Pictures of rice blast symptoms
Leaf:
<http://www.imtech.res.in/raghava/rbpred/lesion.jpg>
Neck:
<http://www.plantpath.ksu.edu/FCKUploads/Image/ValentLab/Neck-Blast-web.jpg>
Leaf, collar, node and neck:
<http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/ricebreedingcourse/blast.jpg>

Links
Rice blast fact sheet (with pictures):
<http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/RiceDoctor/Fact_Sheets/Diseases/Rice_Blast.htm>
Information on rice blast:
<http://www.ikisan.com/links/ap_riceDetailedStudyofDiseases.shtml>,
<http://www.imtech.res.in/raghava/rbpred/home.html>,  and <http://ascus.plbr.cornell.edu/blastdb/about.html>
_M. grisea_ taxonomy and synonyms:
<http://www.indexfungorum.org/Names/SynSpecies.asp?RecordID=317113>.  - Mod.DHA]

[see also in the archive:
2008
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Blast disease, rice - India (02): (HAR) 20081224.4051 Blast disease, rice - India: (JK) 20080919.2935 Blast disease, rice - Guyana 20080812.2491 Yellow mottle & blast diseases, rice - Uganda 20080504.1527 Blast disease, rice - Kenya (02): (CP) 20080421.1413 Blast disease, rice - Kenya (CP) 20080402.1211 Virus & blast diseases, rice - Viet Nam (Mekong Delta) 20080204.0454
2005
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Rice blast fungus, genome sequence - China 20050424.1147
2001
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Magnaporthe grisea, rice blast - Vietnam 20010214.0298 2000
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Rice blast: new method of control (02) 20000928.1678 Rice blast: new method of control 20000825.1419
1998
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Rice blast - USA (California) 19980224.0361]
 

 

 

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