Stem rot: a recent threat to rice cultivation

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a popular staple food globally. The crop is attacked by several fungal diseases. Among these, stem rot caused by Sclerotium oryzae Catt. (anamorph: Nakataea sigmoidea (Cav.) Hara and teleomorph: Magnaporthe salvinii (Catt.) Krause and Webster) has emerged as an important constraint in realizing the potential yield of rice cultivars. The pathogen causes rotting and collapsing of stem due to the production of black lesions on leaf sheath and culm, resulting in premature crop lodging and production of smaller panicles having partially filled grains. This review article includes geographical origin and crop losses, global distribution, symptoms, etiology, disease cycle, favourable conditions for the development of stem rot of rice and its integrated management.