Impact of false smut (Ustilaginoidea virens (Cooke.) Tak.) disease on rice seed health

Abstract

Good seed health is important for getting healthy seedling which give optimum seed production if other conditions for growing crop will be favourable. During seed maturity stage many aerial mycoflora come in contact of the seed. Some infect and convert the seed into spore masseseg.false smut disease of rice caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (Teleomorph: Villosiclava virens). This disease not only reduces the yield because of induces chaffiness but seed quality. An experiment resulted lower germination rate and seedling vigour index (SVI) in diseased grain than healthy grain