Survey of Stem Rot Disease of Rice (Oryza sativa) in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria

Rice (Oryza sativa) is an integral food and cash crop in Ebonyi State, often referred to as the food basket of the South East. Among the diseases constraining rice yield in the state, stem rot caused by Sclerotium oryzae has attracted growing attention from extension workers and plant health researchers. This study surveyed the incidence and severity of rice stem rot in lowland paddies across five rice-farming communities in Ebonyi State during the 2023 cropping season. Sixty paddy fields were assessed using standardised transect sampling, and disease severity was rated on a 0-5 scale based on the proportion of tillers with rotted bases. S. oryzae was isolated from symptomatic tissues and its pathogenicity confirmed through inoculation trials on susceptible seedlings. Mean disease incidence stood at 44 percent, with the highest severity scores recorded in fields continuously cultivated with rice for more than four consecutive seasons. Fields with poorly managed irrigation and standing water throughout the vegetative phase showed significantly higher rot incidence. Farmers were largely unaware of stem rot as a distinct disease entity and often attributed similar symptoms to nutrient deficiencies. The study underlines the need for farmer education on stem rot epidemiology and identification, and recommends the promotion of field drainage improvement as a practical management measure. Keywords: rice, stem rot, Sclerotium oryzae, Ebonyi State, disease incidence.