This is a minor disease of rice seen only in certain tracts,especially in higher elevations.
The growth and general appearance of the infected plants is not affected in any way by the disease.
Infected plants cannot be recognized until panicle emergence.
Heading in the diseased plants is reached at almost the same time or slightly earlier than the normal plants.
In the infected plants an erect,cylindrical rod shaped structure like "agarbathi" emerge out from the boot leaf instead of the normal ear head.
In the infected panicle,the florets get glued together to the main rachis by the mycelium and spore mass of the fungus which hardens into a crust.
Usually all the tillers in a plant are infected,indicating a systematic infection.
Management
Use resistant varieties such as Deepthi.
Collect seeds from disease free locality.
Hot water treatment of seeds at 54oC
Solar treatment of the seed is also effective in killing the pathogen carried in the seed.
Removal of collateral weed hosts such as Isachne elegans , Eragrostis tenuifolia and Cynadon dactylon.
Seed treatment with systemic fungicide such as carbendazim (2g/ kg seed as dry seed treatment or as slurry (2g/kg seed per litre of water)) before sowing gives effective control of the disease.
