On the 18th of August, researchers from the Department of New Biopesticides of InnovPlantProtect (InPP), Pedro Rosa and Tiago Amaro, visited the Tagus/Sorraia basin, in Coruche and Porto Alto, in Samora Correia, to collect samples of rice infected with the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, which causes rice blast disease. The harvests were carried out within the scope of the BlaSTOP project – Develop integrated solutions to combat rice blast disease.
On the 1st of August, the team had already been to the Mondego basin, in Montemor-o-Velho, to collect samples.
The BlaSTOP project aims to develop a sustainable and effective solution for the control of rice blast disease caused by this fungi. The project is supported by COTArroz – Centro Operativo e Tecnológico do Arroz and Casa do Arroz, in the Tagus basin, and Aparroz – Agrupamento de Produtores de Arroz do Vale do Sado Lda, in the Sado basin, where the team expects to collect samples shortly.
Collection of samples in the Tagus area, in Coruche and Porto Alto