ARCHIVES
VOL. 7, ISSUE 5 (2025)
Rice false smut (Ustilaginoidea virens): Advances in pathogen biology, innovative detection tools and next-generation management strategies
Authors
Meena A G, Shiva N, Sagarika M, Selvam K, Yogapriya A, Ragul S
Abstract
Rice false smut (RFS), caused by Ustilaginoidea virens
(teleomorph: Villosiclava virens), has rapidly transitioned from a minor
disease to a major global threat to rice production. The pathogen infects rice
spikelets during the booting and flowering stages, forming green to black smut
balls that replace grains and contaminate harvests with ustiloxins and
ustilaginoidins - mycotoxins harmful to humans and livestock. Yield losses of
5–85% have been reported, with severe economic and food security implications
across Asia and beyond. Advances in pathogen biology reveal effector proteins
and mycotoxins that manipulate host immunity and grain development, while
epidemiological studies highlight the role of warm, humid climates, nitrogen
fertilization, and intensive cultivation in disease spread. Traditional
diagnostics are limited, but innovative tools such as qPCR, LAMP, CRISPR-based
assays, nanopore sequencing, hyperspectral imaging, and AI-driven models enable
early detection and precise surveillance. Management strategies are shifting
from chemical reliance toward integrated approaches combining resistant
cultivars, CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene editing, host-induced gene silencing,
biocontrol agents, microbiome engineering, nanopesticides, RNAi-based
biopesticides and cultural practices. The convergence of genomics, precision
agriculture, and climate-smart forecasting provides new opportunities for
sustainable control of RFS. This review synthesizes recent advances in biology,
detection and next-generation management strategies, offering a framework for
mitigating yield loss, safeguarding food safety and ensuring resilient rice
production under changing climate conditions.
Download
Pages:104-113
How to cite this article:
Meena A G, Shiva N, Sagarika M, Selvam K, Yogapriya A, Ragul S "Rice false smut (<i>Ustilaginoidea virens</i>): Advances in pathogen biology, innovative detection tools and next-generation management strategies". International Journal of Agriculture and Plant Science, Vol 7, Issue 5, 2025, Pages 104-113
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.