Blast disease eats into rice yields, BRRI looks for resilient varieties | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
July 11, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025
Blast disease eats into rice yields, BRRI looks for resilient varieties

Agriculture

Shawkat Ali
28 January, 2024, 10:10 am
Last modified: 28 January, 2024, 12:13 pm

Related News

  • Tripura HC disposes PIL seeking action on cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh, Myanmar
  • 35% tariff: Commerce adviser meets US trade representative in Washington
  • NBR first secretary Tanzina suspended
  • Economist Abul Barkat arrested in graft case
  • No need to worry as US tariff talks ongoing: Fouzul tells biz leaders

Blast disease eats into rice yields, BRRI looks for resilient varieties

Researchers say the disease primarily targets aromatic rice during the Amon season in November, when the country produces over 1.5 crore tonnes of rice

Shawkat Ali
28 January, 2024, 10:10 am
Last modified: 28 January, 2024, 12:13 pm

Around 1% of the country's total four crore tonnes of annual rice production is damaged by blast diseases as there are no resistant and tolerant rice varieties, according to the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).

BRRI is currently trying to develop rice varieties resistant to blast diseases. Experimental cultivation of the new variety is taking place in farmers' fields during the ongoing Boro season, say researchers.

If the experiment is successful, the variety will undergo the final approval process from the National Seed Board, they added.

Researchers say blast diseases pose a common threat to the country's two primary crops, rice and wheat. However, the damage has been notably mitigated in wheat through the development of tolerant varieties.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

They say blast is a fungal disease and can appear in favourable weather, from seedlings to the ripening stage. It can attack rice leaves, necks, panicles, collars and other parts of the plant.

As per BRRI, the peak incidence of blast diseases in Bangladesh occurred between 2015 and 2017, attributed to the effects of climate change. Despite not manifesting on a large scale since then, the disease continues to inflict damage on crops annually, with its impact gradually escalating.

Researchers say the disease primarily targets aromatic rice during the Aman season in November, when the country produces over 1.5 crore tonnes of rice.

Besides, during the Boro season, the predominant period for rice production, the disease affects high-yielding and fine rice varieties, as well as early and aromatic rice varieties. 

Currently, its impact is substantial across various varieties, including BRRI rice-28, 29, 50, 63, 81, 84, and 88.

BRRI reports that the highest incidence of this disease is observed in the Cumilla, Gazipur, and Rangpur regions. Researchers say in years with March rainfall, the prevalence of the disease increases, leading to more substantial damage to early rice varieties.

According to them, this poses a significant challenge as the country's rice production stability has been achieved primarily through high-yielding varieties.

Dr Mohammad Ashik Iqbal Khan, principal scientific officer at the Plant Pathology Division of BRRI, told TBS, "Rice blast diseases can be mitigated with appropriate medication at different stages, utilising the right medicine in specific doses. However, the most effective solution lies in developing resistant varieties."

He added, "We are currently in the final stages of the process for developing such a variety."

The researcher further noted that on a national scale, the impact may not be significantly felt since less than 1% of rice production is damaged each year. However, in areas severely affected by blast attacks, the damage can reach 100%, making its intensity truly devastating.

The disease targets rice when the temperature ranges between 25-28 degrees Celsius, coupled with high humidity in the air. Under these conditions, its occurrence can also be noted in fields with a substantial amount of urea fertiliser.

On the other hand, the favourable temperature for blast disease in wheat is 20-22 degrees Celsius, and it also attacks in high humidity conditions. Wheat production season primarily occurs during winter, according to researchers.

Blast resistant wheat

Despite the prevalence of the disease in rice, Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute reports a reduced impact on wheat production.

Researchers attribute this success solely to the development of wheat varieties resistant to blast diseases.

The cultivation of these resistant varieties prevents the disease from damaging the plants. At present, the country produces 11 to 12 lakh tonnes of wheat annually.

Blast-resistant wheat varieties, such as Bari-33 and BWMRI-Gom 3, have been developed alongside several tolerant varieties, including BWMRI-Gom 1 & 5, Bari Gom 30, and 32. These varieties were introduced following the damage caused by the disease in the 2016-17 wheat production season, as reported by researchers.

Dr Md Abu Zaman Sarker, chief scientific officer at the Plant Pathology Division of the Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute, told TBS, "The incidence and impact of this disease in wheat are now low, primarily attributed to the availability of several blast disease-resistant and tolerant wheat varieties."

Top News

BRRI / Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) / rice / Rice production / Bangladesh

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Kunming rising: China’s emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
    Kunming rising: China’s emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
  • Abul Barkat at Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on 11 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Economist Abul Barkat sent to jail in Tk297cr embezzlement case
  • BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    No scope for electoral alliance with Jamaat, door not closed for NCP: BNP's Salahuddin

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
    SSC, equivalent results: Pass rate drops to 68.45%, GPA-5 also declines
  • In terms of stream of education, girls maintained their excellence as well. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: Girls dominate boys by over 5%
  • Govt vehicle purchase, foreign trip, new building construction banned: Finance ministry
    Govt vehicle purchase, foreign trip, new building construction banned: Finance ministry
  • Students sit for SSC exam at Motijheel Girls' High School on 10 April 2025. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
    SSC exam results out: Here's how you can check online and via SMS
  • The overall pass rate across all boards this year, 68.45%, is significantly lower than last year's. Photo: Focus Bangla
    SSC 2025: Rajshahi board records highest pass rate, Barishal lowest
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    35% tariff: Bangladesh, US 'agree on most issues' as first day of talks ends

Related News

  • Tripura HC disposes PIL seeking action on cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh, Myanmar
  • 35% tariff: Commerce adviser meets US trade representative in Washington
  • NBR first secretary Tanzina suspended
  • Economist Abul Barkat arrested in graft case
  • No need to worry as US tariff talks ongoing: Fouzul tells biz leaders

Features

Kunming rising: China’s emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients

Kunming rising: China’s emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients

29m | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

22h | The Big Picture
Illustration: TBS

Behind closed doors: Why women in Bangladesh stay in abusive marriages

1d | Panorama
Purbachl’s 144-acre Sal forest is an essential part of the area’s biodiversity. Within it, 128 species of plants and 74 species of animals — many of them endangered — have been identified. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

A forest saved: Inside the restoration of Purbachal's last Sal grove

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

19m | TBS World
Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

1h | TBS Stories
Threat of 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods

Threat of 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods

2h | TBS World
Israel ready to strike back if Iran threatens: Katz

Israel ready to strike back if Iran threatens: Katz

3h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net