| dc.description.abstract | Rice false smut has become an emerging disease across the world. Its incidence has
become serious in Bangladesh during T. Aman season in the last five years. However,
the actual level of incidence of the disease in the farmer’s field has not been estimated
in this country. This study included a field survey during ripening stage of T. Aman
rice in four unions of Natore district in order to estimate the disease incidence,
number of smut balls per infected panicle and yield loss, and to ascertain effectiveness
of farmer’s fungicide application. The results show that across the four unions,
disease incidence, number of smut balls per infected panicle and yield loss were
8.06±2.02%, 2.88±0.17 and 0.72±0.18% (± is 95% confidence interval), respectively.
Disease incidence (18.71±5.18%), number of smut balls per infected panicle
(3.51±0.39) and yield loss (1.75±0.38%) was the highest in Ramananda Khajura
union compared to the other three unions. Among the varieties, BRRI dhan49
incurred the highest disease incidence (18.71±5.18%), number of smut balls per
infected panicle (3.51±0.39) and yield loss (1.75±0.38%) than others. The crops
which flowered during mid-October to end November showed significantly higher
disease incidence than early flowering crops. Fungicide application tended to have
reduced the disease, but did not show significant difference with no fungicide
application. It is concluded that the strategic management of the disease may be
directed specific of the fields where there is a history of the disease through
manipulating genotypes and transplanting time. The tactical management of the
disease by using fungicides needs to be comprehensively investigated (with respect to
products, rate, frequency and timing of application) to ascertain its effectiveness
under farmers’ field conditions. | en_US |
