Recently, scientists have warned that the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, which affects the crop in a disease known as ‘wheat blast’, could spread worldwide. In this article, you can read all about Magnaporthe Oryzae. This topic is important for the IAS exam GS-3 segment.
Magnaporthe Oryzae:
- Currently, standing crops are being burnt to avoid this disease.
- The fungus has been found in three continents and is currently playing havoc for wheat crops in South America.
- It originated in South America, but its presence has also been reported in Asia in 2016 and Africa in 2018.
- Asia’s first outbreak of wheat blast was reported in Bangladesh in 2016.
- Genomic analysis from all three continents revealed that these fungi are part of the same family.
- The pathogen is resistant to fungicides and can infect other crops as well.
About wheat blast:
- It is a fast-acting and devastating fungal disease that threatens food safety and security in tropical areas in South America and South Asia. It affects the wheat ear, and can shrivel and deform the grain in less than a week leaving farmers no time to act.
- Wheat Blast was first identified in 1985 in Brazil and has thereafter spread to Bolivia, Paraguay and many other nations. It has become a dreaded agricultural disease for South America, Asia and Africa. It can cause more than 75% yield loss in certain affected fields, rendering the region non-cultivable for wheat for years.
Need for accurate, early detection:
- Early and accurate detection leading to discovery of the origin of the disease can help create a prevention strategy.
- Importing infected seeds is a possible outbreak source which needs to be checked.
- The strain developed by self-cloning can acquire new characteristics by mixing with another genus of the fungus.
- The average yield loss is more than 21 per cent as per various studies.
Way forward: As being warned by the experts there is an urgent need for early detection and taking preventive measures for the wheat blast. Crores of people dependent on wheat as the staple diet source may starve in case of crop failure. Therefore, all necessary steps should be taken to sanitize our agriculture ecosystem and ensure food security.
Magnaporthe Oryzae [UPSC Current Affairs]:- Download PDF Here
Comments