Rice False Smut: An Re-Emerging Disease; Biology, Detection and Its Mitigation – A Review

Rice false smut (RFS), caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, has re-emerged as a major floral disease, posing significant threats to global rice production and food safety. Once regarded as a minor concern, RFS now frequently results in epidemic outbreaks, with yield losses reaching up to 75%, and grain contamination by toxic mycotoxins such as ustiloxins, ustilaginoidins, and sorbicillinoids. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the pathogen’s taxonomy, biology, symptomatology, and host-pathogen interactions. Special focus is given to its survival structures and mycotoxin biosynthesis, as well as recent molecular findings that reveal systemic and asymptomatic colonization of rice plants. The chapter also summarizes current diagnostic tools ranging from conventional microscopy to advanced methods like qPCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and CRISPR-based assays. Management strategies are reviewed, with particular attention to the effectiveness of fungicides, biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma and Bacillus spp., and plant-derived antifungal compounds. An integrated disease management (IDM) approach combining cultural practices, chemical and biological methods, and host resistance is recommended for sustainable control. The review also discusses future prospects, including RNA interference (RNAi), CRISPR-based genome editing, and precision agriculture, for developing long-term solutions to this challenging disease.