ASSESSMENT OF BLAST DISEASE INCIDENCE IN MAJOR RICE GROWING AREAS OF TELANGANA STATE

Abstract

A survey on incidence of rice blast disease was conducted in 13 major rice growing districts of Telanagana. Percent disease incidence was calculated as the proportion of plants showingsymptoms, out of the total number of plants. The incidence varied from 8.24 per cent in Vikarabad district to 58.26 per cent in Warangal district.Disesaseincidence was recorded among all the prominent cultivars grown in their particular regions and it was observed that different cultivars showed different levels of incidence irrespective of the regions. Among the different cultivars,HMT Sona showed the highest incidence of 71.33 per cent whereas cultivar Tellahamsa with 49.16 percent incidence.The maximum isolation rate of the pathogen M. oryzae was recorded from Siddipet with 75 per cent followed by Mahabubnagar with 50 per cent. The disease was observed from nursey to grain hardening stage. The study of disease incidence assessment helps in selecting cultivars as well planning the blast management strategies in Telangana state.