Status of Rice Diseases in Northern Himalayas: A Case Study of Himachal Pradesh
Shikha Sharma *
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur, India.
DK Banyal
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur, India.
Sonali Parwan *
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur, India.
Shiwali Dhiman
KVK Dhaulakuan, Sirmour, CSKHPKV, Palampur, India.
Sachin Upmanyu
Department of Plant Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, India.
Neelam Bhardwaj
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur, India.
Anchal Thakur
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Rice production around the world is threatened by various diseases leading to biotic stress. Surveys during 2022 & 2023 were conducted in eight districts of Himachal Pradesh to assess the status of rice diseases. Seed health status of farmers saved seed was also monitored. Surveys of the crop revealed the occurrence and incidence of varying degrees of diseases viz., bacterial leaf blight, neck blast, sheath rot, false smut, brown spot, narrow brown spot, rice stunting and leaf scald. Association of mycoflora i.e Ustilaginoidea virens, Pyricularia oryzae and Helminthosporium oryzae in farmer saved seed was also observed. The results of this study can be implemented to curtail the yield losses associated with seed borne diseases and can further improve sustainable rice production in Himachal Pradesh.
Keywords: Seed health, pathogens, diseases, rice, incidence