Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Specy

Rice Blast Fungus

Fungi

Magnaporthe grisea, also known as rice blast fungus among other names, is a plant-pathogenic fungus and model organism that causes a serious disease affecting rice. The species is now understood to be a cryptic species complex containing at least two genetically distinct, non-interbreeding lineages: members isolated from Digitaria are now defined more narrowly as Magnaporthe grisea, while those isolated from rice and other hosts have been renamed Magnaporthe oryzae, though which of the two names properly belongs to the rice pathogen remains disputed among researchers.

Facts
Disputed
Scientific Name
Magnaporthe oryzae, also called Magnaporthe grisea 1
Authors disagree on whether the rice pathogen is named Magnaporthe grisea or Magnaporthe oryzae; the source states both names are in use.
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Causes white to gray-green lesions with darker borders; older lesions are elliptical or spindle-shaped and whitish to gray with necrotic borders 1
Sources
1. Magnaporthe grisea, Wikipedia
  • Lead section, fifth sentence
    Confusion on which of these two names to use for the rice blast pathogen remains, as both are now used by different authors.
  • Hosts and symptoms, first paragraph
    Initial symptoms are white to gray-green lesions or spots with darker borders produced on all parts of the shoot, while older lesions are elliptical or spindle-shaped and whitish to gray with necrotic borders.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.