Remedies for hybrid Boro disease Aminul Islam, Mymensingh A group of researchers and agriculture scientists said there is no cause to be afraid about the disease in Boro fields in which leaves of plants are turning yellowish in many areas of the country. They have suggested some remedies also. The "Patapoura" disease (Bacterial Leaf Streak) that has been observed in many areas of Mymensingh and other districts during this ongoing boro season. They ruled out any threat of disaster following the disease. They were reviewing the situation at a day-long conference titled 'Recent Problems in Boro paddy: Its Remedy', held at the conference room of Teachers Students Center of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) on Friday. It was organized by BAU Sangbadik Samity. It was moderated by Dr. Bahadur Miah, founder and director of Plant Pathology and Plant Disease Clinic at BAU. Among others, BAU Soil Scientist Prof. Dr. Mujibur Rahman, Agronomist Prof. Dr. Nazrul Islam, Dr. Mohammed Hossain, Director (Research) of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) and BINA Scientist Dr. Ali Azam attended the conference. The scientists said the disease can be contained through proper use of fertilisers and taking some steps. The researchers and scientists said it is a seed borne disease, caused by infection of seed. Existence of the disease was detected in the country long ago, but in a limited scale. This year it has emerged in many areas of the country in a massive form. The disease is also seen n many countries, they said. Dr. Bahadur Miah who visited some Boro fields of Mymensingh Sadar and Muktagacha upazilas on Friday told the conference the disease is being termed as Bacterial Leaf Blight but actually it if Bacterial Leaf Streak. It is generally caused due to early transplantation, insufficient sunlight or indiscriminate use of fertilisers, he said. As a remedy, Dr. Bahadur Miah said, water should be drained out from the field attacked with the disease and potash fertiliser mixed with water should be sprayed. He also said that 50 gram Cupravit mixed with 10 liters water can be sprayed in five decimal land or 20 gram Champion mixed with 10 liters of water can be sprayed. Bordeaux Mixture can also be a remedy, he said. BAU Agronomist Prof. Dr. Md. Sultan Uddin Bhuiyan said that farmers should be aware of the fact that the drained out water from the affected land does not enter into another non-affected field. If the disease is severe, water or fertiliser should not be used to avoid further infection, said the researcher adding that farmers should not be panicked about the disease. Prof. Dr. Zahir Uddin of BAU Soil Science Faculty said crops are affected with various diseases due to lack of use of balanced fertilszers and in many cases our farmers ignore the matter. BAU Antomologist Prof. Dr. Khondaker Shariful Islam said, the disease may be caused due to lack of proper water management in the field, which can be avoided easily. BAU Proctor and eminent economist Dr. Harun-or-Rashid said the tendency of using more fertiliser to get more production should be given up. Dr. Bahadur Miah told this correspondent yesterday that he visited some Boro fields in Phulbaria upazila yesterday. Leaves of Boro plants have become yellowish in many areas of the upazila due to lack of Sulphur in soil, he said.