Rice diseases pose a major threat to rice production. The three major diseases, sheath blight, blast and bacterial panicle blight, cause significant yield and quality reductions that cost farmers millions of dollars each year. The objective of the Rice Pathology Project is to develop an integrated disease management program that effectively and economically reduces rice diseases. Disease resistance is the best control, but often it is not available or breaks down after a variety has been released and requires constant efforts to improve and maintain. Cultural control can reduce disease development, but reducing inputs can also limit yield. As a result, rice farmers often rely on fungicides to control diseases, but these tend to be expensive and occasionally ineffective.

Experiments are conducted at the LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station and in off-station sites. Disease resistance of rice varieties and breeding lines is evaluated in inoculated and naturally infested plots. Cultural management practices are evaluated for their effect on disease development. Fungicides are evaluated for effectiveness in controlling diseases, and application technologies are evaluated to improve fungicide effectiveness.

Several varieties have been identified with multiple resistances to all three major rice diseases, including the recently released LSU AgCenter variety Jupiter. The first ratings of rice reaction to bacterial panicle blight were published in the 2006 and 2007 Rice Varieties and Management Tips publications. Effects of planting rates, timing, nitrogen rate and other cultural practices have also been determined. Three new highly effective fungicides have been labeled in the last eight years partially on data developed by this project, and application technology that greatly improves these fungicides’ efficacy has been developed.

Donald E.Groth, Project Leader-Professor/Research Coordinator, Rice Research Station
Xin Hua Wang, Research Associate
Joseph Nugent, Research Farm Specialist