Rice is one of the most important crops in the world and a staple in many diets. Unfortunately, it is also susceptible to a variety of diseases, one of which is the bacterial blight of Rice. This disease can cause significant yield losses, so it is important to know how to properly identify and control it. In this blog post, we will explain the symptoms, how to identify them, and what steps you can take to control them.

The bacterial Blight disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. The Xanthomonas genus, consisting primarily of phytopathogenic bacteria, is a member of the Xanthomonadaceae family.

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• High temperature (26-30°C), relative humidity above 70%, stormy weather, planting of susceptible varieties, wounding of roots or plants during planting, application of high doses of urea fertilizers, etc. increase the incidence of the disease.
• Bacterial blight disease is spread from one field to another through rice straw, soil, insects, wind, and irrigation water.

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1. 1. First, bluish water-sucking spots appear on the tips or edges of the leaves. The spot gradually takes on a light yellow color and grows downwards from the tip of the leaf.
   2. Eventually, the leaves become partially or completely scorched and take on a gray or dry straw color. As a result, the tree first falls, and slowly the whole tree dies.
   3. Krycek symptoms usually appear in seedlings and pods. As a result of this disease, the tree first falls, and slowly the whole tree dies.
   4. Bacterial cells often precede the symptoms of the disease and the cells coalesce to form yellow bead-like granules in the early morning which dry and harden on the leaves.
   5. Subsequently, the water droplets on the leaves dissolve the droplets, allowing the disease germs to spread easily.
   6. A foul-smelling pus-like liquid oozes out when the stem of the affected plant is pinched.
   7. When the temperature difference between night and day is high (8-10 degrees C.), the symptom of pale yellow color appears on the young leaves.

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• • Disease-resistant varieties should be cultivated.
    
  • After harvesting the paddy of the diseased land, the residue (thickness and straw) should be burnt.
  • Be careful not to break the roots while lifting the seedlings.
  • Fertilizer should be used in balanced amounts and Urea (Nitrogen) fertilizer should be applied in 3/4 installments. But after seeing the disease, the application of urea fertilizer should be stopped.
  • After 5-10 days dry the affected land should be watered again.
  • An additional 37 kg of potassium (MOP) fertilizer per hectare should be applied by sprinkling water after the disease is observed.
  • Spraying chelated zinc at the rate of 1 gram per liter of water reduces the severity of the disease.

Info Source / References:

1. Rice Knowledge Bank, International Rice Research Institute(IRRI).
2. Bangladesh Rice Research Institute(BRRI).