Weather Effect and Response of Promoted Rice Varieties on Fusarium Infection in Paddy Field

Fusarium infection rate of the paddy rice grain after harvest seemed to be influenced by the average temperature from late July (before heading) to the end of September (during ripening). In case of 2010 and 2013 in which average temperature of the same period was similar, Fusarium infection was related to cumulative precipitation, cumulative precipitation days, and precipitation durations over two days. The distribution ratio of Fusarium species complex isolated from paddy rice grains after harvest was 57% in 2010 and 45% in 2013 for Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC), 35% and 50% for Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex, and 8% and 5% for Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). The distribution ratios of FGSC and FFSC were higher in 2010 than 2013. Among the total 26 promoted rice varieties, the ‘Mihyang’ showed resistant response against the natural infection with Fusarium species belonging to FGSC and the varieties of ‘Nampyeong’, ‘Hi-ami’and ‘Younghojinmi’ showed resistant response against the natural infection with overall Fusarium pathogens. Majority of the promoted rice varieties could not be classified for resistance or susceptibility. These results are valuable as basic data to determine the resistance and susceptibility of rice variety against Fusarium spp. infection in the field.