Genetic diversity and disease control in rice

Youyong Zhu, Hairu Chen, Jinghua Fan, Yunyue Wang, Yan Li, Jianbing Chen, JinXiang Fan, Shisheng Yang, Lingping Hu, Hei Leung, Tom W. Mew, Paul S. Teng, Zonghua Wang and Christopher C. Mundt ()
Additional contact information
Youyong Zhu: The Phytopathology Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University
Hairu Chen: The Phytopathology Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University
Jinghua Fan: The Phytopathology Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University
Yunyue Wang: The Phytopathology Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University
Yan Li: The Phytopathology Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University
Jianbing Chen: The Phytopathology Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University
JinXiang Fan: Honghe Prefecture Plant Protection Station of Yunnan Province
Shisheng Yang: Jianshui County Plant Protection Station of Yunnan Province
Lingping Hu: Shiping County Plant Protection Station of Yunnan Province
Hei Leung: International Rice Research Institute
Tom W. Mew: International Rice Research Institute
Paul S. Teng: International Rice Research Institute
Zonghua Wang: International Rice Research Institute
Christopher C. Mundt: International Rice Research Institute

Nature, 2000, vol. 406, issue 6797, 718-722

Abstract: Abstract Crop heterogeneity is a possible solution to the vulnerability of monocultured crops to disease1,2,3. Both theory4 and observation2,3 indicate that genetic heterogeneity provides greater disease suppression when used over large areas, though experimental data are lacking. Here we report a unique cooperation among farmers, researchers and extension personnel in Yunnan Province, China—genetically diversified rice crops were planted in all the rice fields in five townships in 1998 and ten townships in 1999. Control plots of monocultured crops allowed us to calculate the effect of diversity on the severity of rice blast, the major disease of rice5. Disease-susceptible rice varieties planted in mixtures with resistant varieties had 89% greater yield and blast was 94% less severe than when they were grown in monoculture. The experiment was so successful that fungicidal sprays were no longer applied by the end of the two-year programme. Our results support the view that intraspecific crop diversification provides an ecological approach to disease control that can be highly effective over a large area and contribute to the sustainability of crop production.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35021046

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