Rice blast, the most important fungal disease of rice plants worldwide, and other diseases may some day be controlled by a natural fungicide produced by a specially fed bacterium collected from a central Illinois hog farm.
Blast can be a serious problem for Arkansas rice producers.
Arkansas produces more than 40 percent of the nation s rice. Ill. ARS is USDA's chief scientific research agency. In Arkansas, one of the main weaknesses in our high yielding rice varieties is the lack of blast resistance, said Brad Koen, rice verification coordinator with the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas. He said if the fungicide developed by USDA researchers was affordable and could reduce the risk of blast, it would be a great benefit to Arkansas rice farmers. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.