Stem rot of rice

Summary

Stem rot is a fungal disease found in rice. It causes black lesions commonly located around water level on the stem of the plant and is often first noticed around panicle initiation (PI).

Stem rot appeared in the MIA in 1995.  A large number of farms were affected, but no major yield losses were experienced. In 2017 there was a similar occurrence, with a number of properties reported to have stem rot in the Finley area.

Topics covered in this Primefact:

• What is stem rot?
• What does the fungus do?
• How do you know if you have stem rot?
• Why can stem rot become severe?
• What needs to be done?
• Other issues observed on rice stems in 2017