Which of the following organisms causes blast disease of rice?
-
Verticillium species
-
Magnaporthe grisea
-
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
-
Armillaria species
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Magnaporthe grisea causes rice blast disease. Initial symptoms are white to gray-green lesions or spots with darker borders produced on all parts of the shoot, while older lesions are elliptical or spindle-shaped and whitish to gray with necrotic borders. Lesions may enlarge and coalesce to kill the entire leaf.