Rice Blast Disease
Rice blast disease is a recurring issue in China's double-cropping rice regions. It primarily affects late-season rice seedlings or the base of adult plants. Infected areas turn brown, and white, filamentous mycelium appears on the surface. Later, yellow-brown micro-sclerotia form. When late rice seedlings are infected, they may wither and die. The affected plants turn yellow, and the entire plant can become dry and unviable.
The pathogen responsible for this disease is *Sclerotium rolfsii* Sacc., also known as *S. sclerotiorum*. The sclerotia are spherical to elliptical, measuring 0.5–1 mm in size. They are easy to detach and have a smooth, shiny surface. These structures are gray or white, densely packed, and composed of polygonal and round cells, approximately 6–8 μm in diameter. The outer cells are smaller, irregular, and brown in color. The sub-solid layer is white, and the burden is stick-shaped, with 2–4 basal stalks on the top, from which spores develop. The spores are spherical or pear-shaped, colorless, and range from 4.5–6.7 by 3.5–4.5 μm in size.
The sexual stage of the fungus is best known as *Corticium centrifugum* (Lv.) Bers., also referred to as *C. rolfii* Curzi (Saccardo). Recently, it has been reclassified as *Athelia rolfsii* (Curzi) Tu and Kimbrough (Punja), and is classified under the Basidiomycetes group. In some cases, the structure resembles *Rhizoctonia*, but it differs in its reproductive methods and morphology.
The pathogen is difficult to identify in the field due to its variable appearance. The burden is rod-shaped, with 2–4 basal stalks at the tip of the branching mycelium, where basidiospores develop. These spores are pear-shaped or oval, colorless, and smooth. A similar behavior was observed in *Phalaenopsis* orchids in Taiwan.
The transmission routes of the pathogen involve soil, where it overwinters and infects the roots, stems, or leaves of plants that come into contact with the ground. In China’s double-cropping rice regions, the main damage occurs in late rice seedlings, often leading to significant yield losses.
To manage rice blast disease, farmers should follow standard practices used for rice rot. These include crop rotation, proper water management, and the use of resistant varieties. Fungicides can also be applied during critical growth stages to reduce infection risk.
(Word count: 512) Matcha, originated from China, is finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea.
It is special in two aspects of farming and processing: The green tea plants for matcha are shade grown for about three weeks before harvest, and the stems and veins are removed in processing.
The traditional Chinese tea ceremony centers on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha. In modern times, matcha also has come to be used to flavour and dye foods such as mochi and soba noodles, green tea ice cream,etc.
It`s a special form of green tea:
Matcha literally means powdered tea." When you order traditional green tea, components from the leaves get infused into the hot water, then the leaves are discarded. With matcha, you`re drinking the actual leaves, which have been finely powdered and made into a solution, traditionally by mixing about a teaspoon of matcha powder with a third cup of hot water (heated to less than a boil), which is then whisked with a bamboo brush until it froths.
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