Abstract
In 17 areas of paddy field alongside the Morimoto River in Kanazawa, rice plants and the weed Leersia infected with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae were screened and assayed by PCR. Diseased rice plants were found in eight of 17 areas. Of these eight areas, diseased and PCR-positive Leersia plants were found in four areas; asymptomatic but PCR-positive Leersia were found in two areas; no Leersia was found in two areas. In the remaining nine areas, all Leersia were asymptomatic and PCR-negative. In conclusion, PCR assay could be useful for detecting the pathogen and can be used as a forecasting method for bacterial blight of rice.
