Helminthosporium

Helminthosporium is a genus of fungi in the class Hyphomycetes whose species are parasitic on cereal crops such as rice, oats, barley and corn, and on fruits including apples and pears. Helminthosporium oryzae causes brown spot of rice, a disease infamous for its role in the Bengal famine, while related species blemish and rot stored grain and fruit. In the food chain these pathogens reduce yields, downgrade grain quality and open the way for secondary moulds and mycotoxins. Control integrates resistant varieties, seed treatment, crop rotation and fungicide programmes, with post-harvest sorting removing visibly diseased kernels.