Combating the Bacterial Leaf Streak Disease
August 22, 2008| |
With rainy days comes a disease feared by rice growers in the Philippines: the bacterial leaf streak (BLS). Caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, the disease is less invasive and less popular than its infamous cousin, the bacterial leaf blight (BLB). In the Philippines however, BLS is more prevalent when it rains non-stop, especially during the monsoon season.
According to Hoai Xuan Truong, plant pathologist from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), BLS damage ranges from 10 to 20% when most of the leaves are infected. Dr. Truong said that the first and best preventive option is to maintain good drainage. He also cautions against planting hybrid rice varieties during the wet season, as most of these are highly susceptible to BLS and other diseases. When applying copper-based fungicides, he said that farmers must make sure to apply before 40-50 DAS (days after sowing); beyond that it will be useless to spray since it is highly probable that the pathogens have taken their place inside the leaf.
PhilRice has developed BLS-resistant rice varieties (PSB Rc82 and PSB Rc18). Scientists at the institute are now working, using conventional and biotechnology approaches, to integrate the BLS-resistance trait into rice varieties with more desirable agronomic properties.
For more information on BLS, read http://www.philrice.gov.ph//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=578&Itemid=2
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