Rice blast is one of the most severe diseases in the rice industry worldwide. This disease often plagues the paddy field industry thus posing a threat to food security in the long run. 

This disease is caused by the pathogen Magnapothe Oryzae which spreads through rainwater. 

Among the symptoms of paddy crops infected by this disease are the effects of gray spots found on the leaf. The attack of this pathogen will cause the grain to turn yellow thus impairing the grain development. 

There are various ways to overcome the disease such as by using disease-resistant rice seeds or by performing seed treatment before beginning the paddy cultivation activities. 

In addition, farmers are also encouraged to monitor the paddy continuously as paddy disease often occurs when the paddy matures, thus causing total damage to the paddy quality. 

This is very crucial to the rice cultivation industry and affected the country's food supply as rice is a staple food for Malaysians. 

Realising the importance of improving the country's food security, Lead Researcher, Prof. Dr. Wong Mui Yun from the Faculty of Agriculture UPM produced the BlastBuster RS4 technology specifically to eradicate magnapothe Oryzae pathogens that damage rice crops.

BlastBuster RS4 is an antifungal that offers a solution to rice crop diseases. This technology is effective in promoting the safe growth of rice seeds and is free from this pathogenic virus. 

BlastBuster RS4 has proven to be effective in providing a protective layer to the paddy seeds thus improving the quality of the rice produced. The BlastBuster RS4 component is developed using natural bacteria with a sticky substance designed to protect the seeds of the rice crop. 

This technology targets the farmers and the rice crop industry especially in dealing with rice-blast diseases.

Interestingly, this technology records the effectiveness of increasing seed germination rate up to 51% thus improving the yield quality of paddy. 

Not only does it is made non-hazardous to human health and environmental-friendly anti-fungi, but BlastBuster RS4 also works to promote the growth of plant seeds and promotes a safer biologically alternative to combat the disease.

It offers an easy application making it the best solution for the rice crop industry to overcome the Magnapothe Oryzae virus.

 

Prof. Dr. Wong Mui Yun

Faculty of Agriculture

muiyun@upm.edu.my

 

 

Date of Input: 23/09/2022 | Updated: 23/09/2022 | aishah