Disease Specialist from PTN Responds to Swamp Rice Problems

The Agrina Tabloid February 2021 edition raises an article about the scourge of swamp rice, in that article contains many complaints from farmers regarding problems arising from diseases that attack rice plants, especially swamp rice. The diseases that attack are indeed diseases that have been a scourge for rice farmers, including neck blast caused by Pyricularia grisea and leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pt oryzae. One of the lecturers of the Plant Protection Department, Dr. Widodo is a plant disease expert who gave his response regarding the attack of this rice disease, referring to the article published in the Agrina Tabloid. "There are three factors that influence the occurrence of disease attacks, namely resistance to varieties, pathogens, and the environment (including nature and cultivation methods)" said Dr. Widodo.

Dr. Widodo explained that the fungal pathogen P. grisea has 39 strains. “In a country with four seasons, once planted, winter comes, over. In tropical countries, this pathogen always interacts with its host plant so that it is always changing. So we can't just rely on resistant varieties. High productivity is an important one. But the relationship with disease continues to pay attention to weather and cultivation”.

The full article can be read in Agrina magazine at the following link: Agrina 2021 February Edition