Incidence of Fusarium spp. associated with rice seeds (Oryzae sativa L.) in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Rice production in Burkina Faso is limited by some fungal diseases transmitted by species from the genus Fusarium. To this end, the importance of these fungi was assessed on 59 samples from 7 rice varieties using the blotting paper method. The sites were distributed in the 13 administrative regions located according to the 3 agro-ecological zones of the country. Fusarium spp. was identified in 81.35% of the samples at infection rates ranging from 1 to 41%. Fusarium spp. is present in all agroecological zones with prevalence rates ranging from 78.2 to 83.87 %. Samples from the Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian zones were more infected (6.74% and 5.34% respectively) than those from the Sahelian zone (1.40%). These fungi were found in all regions of the country with seed infection rates ranging from 0.5 to 15.25%. The most affected regions were the Centre-South (15.25%), the Centre (11.75 %) and the “Boucle du Mouhoun” (11.5%). The study shows an overall seed infection rate of Fusarium spp. of 5.74%. Identification of the species found on rice is imperative. Evaluation of their pathogenicity will make it possible to determine which species are involved in the rice's gigantism.