Explainer: Why ‘false smut’ has triggered a false alarm, but dwarf virus is the real killer
Dwarf virus has ruined crops in over 20k acres of land falling in 400 villages of Patiala
Patiala, Updated At : 07:04 AM Oct 07, 2025 IST
False smut is a fungus that affects rice by producing greenish-yellow and orange spore balls which replaces a few grains in the panicle, thereby giving it a ‘smutty’ appearance. File
Even as farmers in Patiala struggle with crop losses due to floods and dwarf virus, reports of widespread false smut infestation have triggered panic across the district.
