Improvement of Agronomic Parameters of Rice Plants Infected by Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) Using Plant Extracts

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of plant extracts Azadirachta indica, Piper nigrum L, Acacia gummifera, Combretum micranthum, and Clenodium vulgare L on rice yellow mottle virus in rice.

Study Design: The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five repetitions. The blocking factor was the sunshine.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology Research Laboratory (LaboREM-Biotech) of the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, between June and November 2020.

Methodology: The rice variety Kogoni91-1, which is highly susceptible to rice yellow mottle, was grown under greenhouse at the LaboREM-Biotech, inoculated with a highly virulent virus from the laboratory's collection and treated with plant extracts.

Results: The results showed that rice plants treated with the combination of plant extracts from C. micranthum, A. indica, and C. vulgare recorded higher grain and aerial biomass yields than the positive control and very close to those of the negative control. Similarly, plants treated with black pepper extracts showed a number of spikelets, a yield and an aerial biomass higher than those of the positive control and very close to those of the negative control.

Conclusion: Using plant extracts to combat rice yellow mottle could be an alternative to the application of chemical pesticides harmful to human and animal health.