A Model to Forecast Rice Blast Disease Based on Weather Indexing

A computer program written to predict blast occurrence based on micro climatic events was developed and tested as an on-site microcomputer in field plots in 1984 and 1985. A microcomputer unit operating on alkaline batteries; continuously monitored air temperature, leaf wetness, and relative humidity; interpreted the microclimate information in relation to rice blast development and displayed daily values (0-8) of blast units of severity (BUS). Cumulative daily BUS values (CBUS) were highly correlated with blast development on the two susceptible cultivars, M-201 and Brazos grown in field plots. When CBUS values were used to predict the logit of disease proportions, the average coefficients of determination between these two factors were 71 to , depending on cultivar and year. This was a significant improvement when compared to 61 to when days were used as a predictor of logit disease severity. The ability of CBUS to predict logit disease severity was slightly less with Brazos than M-201. This is significant inasmuch as Brazos showed field resistance at mid-sea­son. The results in this study indicate that the model has the potential for future use and that the model could be improved by incorporating other variables associated with host plants and pathogen races in addition to the key environmental variables.