Brown Neck Blast disease is a common problem in paddy crops all over the world, especially in places with high humidity and temperatures above 20°C. This severe disease affects paddy plants and damages the yield of rice production. The brown-necked blast is caused by a fungal pathogen called Pyricularia oryzae, which is known to infect rice plants at multiple growth stages.
The brown neck blast disease symptomatology could be observed at maximum tillering, booting and at the early heading stage. In the initial stages, the infected area shows a dark lesion which spreads quickly throughout the plant and causes the neck of the rice plant to become brown, thus reducing the fertility of the plant. With gradual infection, the leaves of the rice plant show brown lesions with dark border margins. These brown lesions get spread to leaf sheaths, nodes, grains, and panicles. At the maturity, the infected eroded grains result in a significantly reduced yield or no yield at all.
There are several preventive measures that can be taken to combat the brown-necked blast disease. Farmers should use good quality seed material, should avoid excess nitrogenous fertilizers, and should control drought stress for the proper growth of the rice plant. Farmers should also avoid over-application of fungicides, which is a common mistake made by many farmers. This is because the over-application of fungicides is not only harmful to the rice plant but also negatively impacts beneficial microbes present in the soil.
Developing disease-resistant varieties of paddy is a feasible option for preventing the brown-necked blast disease in paddy crops. Resistance breeding and the use of biological control agents can also be considered. The application of cultural practices such as the removal of plant debris, crop rotation, and early harvesting can also reduce the likelihood of brown-necked blast disease. Early harvest and regular crop monitoring of diseases can be an effective way of controlling diseases.
In conclusion, the brown-necked blast disease in paddy crops is a significant problem for farmers in many parts of the world. The disease spreads quickly and can have devastating effects on crop yield. The best approach to controlling the disease is to use preventive measures such as disease-resistant varieties of paddy, cultural control methods, and proper fertilizer management. These practices help to improve the health of the rice plant while also ensuring consistent crop yields and improved livelihoods for rice farmers.