Economic Importance - Rice Blast

Blast is considered a major disease of rice because of its wide distribution and destructiveness under favorable conditions. Although blast is capable of causing very severe losses of up to 100%, little information exists on the extent and intensity of actual losses in farmers' fields. Losses of 5 to 10%, 8%,and 14% were recorded in India (1960-1961), Korea (mid-1970s), and in China (1980-1981), respectively.  In the Philippines, yield losses ranging from 50 to 85% were reported.