The paddy crop in Punjab and Haryana, currently at maturing and harvest stage, has been severely affected by false smut disease (haldi rog). Experts estimate a 5–6% crop yield loss, which translates into significant financial damage for farmers. The outbreak worsens farmer distress, already impacted by incessant rains and floods earlier this season.
Key Highlights
- Missed Fungicide Sprays: Heavy rains and flooding prevented farmers from timely spraying of antifungal treatments, leading to the outbreak.
- Impact: False smut reduces grain weight, germination capacity, and market quality, causing large-scale losses.
- Global Impact: Can cause 3%–70% yield loss depending on weather, variety, and severity.
- Contributing Factors:
- Prolonged humidity (~70%)
- Temperature 30–35°C
- Waterlogging in fields
- Excess nitrogen use
- Poor or delayed pesticide application
- Fungus survival in weeds and crop residue
About False Smut Disease
- Causative Agent: Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens.
- Other Names: Haldi Rog, Lakshmi Disease, Oothupathi Disease.
- Infection Stage: Attacks flowering stage, symptoms visible after panicle emergence.
- Symptoms:
- Grains covered with yellow/orange fungal balls, turning greenish-black later.
- Only some grains in a panicle are affected.
- Causes chalkiness of grains, reduced weight, and poor seed germination.
- Spread: Survives on stubble, straw, and infected plant debris.
Favourable Conditions
- Warm, humid weather (25–30°C) with >80% humidity.
- Infected residues left in the field.
- Excess nitrogen in soil.
- Poor drainage & waterlogging.
Management & Control
- Integrated Management Needed (since symptoms appear late):
- Use pathogen-free certified seeds.
- Adopt resistant varieties of paddy.
- Apply balanced nitrogen instead of overuse.
- Ensure timely fungicide sprays (at panicle initiation stage).
- Practice field sanitation – remove crop residues and weeds.
- Challenges: Heavy fungicide usage causes fungal resistance & environmental pollution.
Key Facts
- Major rice producing states: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana.
- Paddy is kharif season crop (sown June–July, harvested Oct–Nov).
- Significance: False smut directly threatens food security, farmer income, and export quality of Indian rice.