Rice, for example, can be grown successfully with careful planning and knowledge. However, many common issues which plague rice plants can lead to reduced yields, and even crop loss. One such disease, narrow brown leaf spot, remains troublesome for many growers.
What is Narrow Brown Leaf Spot of Rice?
Narrow brown leaf spot is a fungal disease that impacts rice plants. Caused by the fungus, Cercospora janseana, leaf spot may be an annual frustration for many. Most commonly, rice with narrow brown leaf spot symptoms manifests in the form of narrow darkened spots on rice plants ranging in size. Though the presence and severity of infections will vary from one season to the next, well-established cases of rice cercospora disease can lead to decreased yields, as well as premature loss of harvests.
Controlling Rice Narrow Brown Leaf Spot
Though commercial growers may have some success with the use of fungicide, it is often not a cost-effective option for home gardeners. Additionally, rice varieties that claim resistance to narrow brown leaf spot are not always reliable options, as new strains of the fungus commonly appear and attack plants that demonstrate resistance. For most, the best course of action as a means to controlling losses related to this fungal disease is to choose varieties that mature earlier in the season. By doing so, growers are able to better avoid intense disease pressure at harvest time late in the growing season.
