Abstract

Stem rot is a fungal disease that affects rice plants. It forms black lesions on the plant's stem, usually near the water level, and is often initially detected around panicle commencement in 1995, stem rot was discovered in the MIA. A considerable number of farms were impacted, although no severe damage occurred. There were yield reductions. A similar scenario occurred in 2017, with a number of people being killed. Certain characteristics have been reported. Sclerotium oryzae causes the stem rot described in this fact sheet.