Rice compatibility with pyricularia from other grasses

Abstract

Seven isolates of Pyricularia sp fungus were inoculated from other grasses on rice cultivars differentiating from physiologic races of P. oryzae, in order to determine the compatibility between rice plants (Oryzae sativa L.) and the fungus found in other hosts. The results obtained showed that three isolates of Pyricularia from crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.), barnyard grass (Echinochloa spp.) and rice cutgrass (Leersia hexandra Sw.), respectively, were pathogenic to rice plants. Four other isolates from Paspalum sp (two) and rice cutgrass (Leersia hexandra) (two) did not infect the rice cultivars when inoculated. Based on these results, it was concluded that some isolates, besides having compatibility with rice plants, showed pathogenic variability. These factors indicate the possible dissemination of the fungus to the rice plants through intermediate hosts.