Control of Ustilaginoidea virens, the Causal Agent of Rice False Smut Disease in Egypt

The study was conducted to determine the effects of cultivars susceptibility to infection with the pathogen and the pathogenic isolates on the pathogenicity of false smut fungus (Ustilaginoidea virens) and to develop new management strategies to control the pathogen. The susceptibility of 7 commercial rice cultivars to U. virens was evaluated. Moreover, pathogenicity of 10 isolates of U. virens, isolated from three governorates in Egypt was studied using Giza 171 rice cultivar. Four fungicides, four plant extracts and six bioagents were used to control U. virens under greenhouse and field conditions. Among the plant extracts, treatment with Mustard was the best in reducing infection and highly efficacy comparing with the others under greenhouse and field conditions. Chemical and biological control results were variable depending on application time, before or after pathogen inoculation. In conclusion, this study suggests the possibility of using plant extracts and bioagents for controlling U. virens infection in rice.