A total eighteen rice cultivars were screened against false smut disease of rice under natural conditions in wetland field at Navsari during 2017 and 2018. Eighteen cultivars evaluated, out of seven cultivars viz., GNR-2, GNR-3, GNR-5, GNRH-1, Mahisagar, NAUR-1 and Dandi were found completely false smut free during 2017 and 2018. Whereas, highest per cent disease incidence ., , and per cent and disease severity index ., , and was found in whereas, highest average smutted ball ., , and per cent was found in US-312 during 2017, 2018 and mean of two years, respectively. The cultivars evaluated were based on grouped their resistance reaction against false smut. Out of the eighteen cultivars, GNR-2, GNR-3, GNR-5, GNRH-1, Mahisagar, NAUR-1 and Dandi were found highly resistant ., completely false smut free and visual score zero whereas, GNR-4, Tapeswari, Masuri, Jaya, Gurjari, Sambha-Masuri, GR-4 and GR-7 were found moderately resistant ., visual score three. However, TN-1, GR-11 and US-312 were found moderately susceptible ., visual score five were found in mean of two years. Out of eighteen cultivars, none of these was found to susceptible and highly susceptible to false smut disease. | Screening of rice cultivars against false Smut [Ustilaginoidea virens (Cooke) Takahashi] of rice
