Results of the present investigation could be compared with the findings of Rajagopalan and
Bhuvaneswari (1964). They reported that sowing ungerminated seeds in infected soil resulted in
rapid progress of the disease and a high percentage of mortality. Whereas, mild disease symptoms
resulted when germinated seeds were sown.
Higher OGR and death rate might be the indication of higher susceptibility of a rice variety
against bakanae disease that was found in dry seeds inoculation in the present investigation.
Therefore, incubation of dry seeds in SS (5.0×1010 conidia/ml) of a pathogenic strain under
fluorescent light for 10 days might be considered a suitable laboratory method to screen out
susceptible rice varieties against bakanae disease.