In Iranian susceptible cultivars, the flag leaf was characteristically
shortened, twisted and often distorted. Complete or partial emergence of
panicles occurred on infested plants with whitish spiklets on the tip or
throughout. The affected spikelets were shrunken and unfilled (Fig.1). Italian
rice varieties ranked in three groups on the basis of different leaf symptoms: 1.
typical whitening of leaf tip, 2. chlorotic streaks or strips on leaves observed
with back light, 3. no leaf symptoms in stunted plants with panicle partially
emerged and reduced size (Giudici et al., 2003).