Blast, remains the world s most important diseases of rice, despite intensive efforts to control it. A comprehensive monographic study was planned on the basis of the author s wide experience on blast research over three decades and the knowledge gained through close, personal and professional working relationship with the world s leading rice pathologists. This book is aimed to benefit graduate students, rice pathologists and extension workers. The critical work should not only stimulate further research but is also useful for the blast management and crop improvement of rice. This monograph traces the history of rice blast disease, the fungus, its geographical distribution, nomenclature, taxonomy, morphology, physiology, variability, ultrastructure, cytology, ontogeny as well as cell and molecular biology. Throughout the book many outstanding illustrations, tables and excellent plates serve to amplify and clarify the exposition. Also, elaborate details are provided on the host-range, physiological races, varietal and nature of resistance, disease resistance and control, epidemiology, simulation models for forecasting and on research highlights on this principal rice disease. Contents Chapter 1: History; Chapter 2: Geographical Distribution; Chapter 3: Yield Losses; Chapter 4: Symptomatology; Pathological histology; Chapter 5: Causal Organism; Nomenclature, Taxonomy, Morphology, Physiology, Variability, Ultrastructure, Antigenic comparison, Conidium ontogeny; Cell and molecular biology; Chapter 6: Host Range; Cereals, Grasses and sedges; Chapter 7: Life Cycle; Chapter 8: Physiological Races; Race distribution and differentiation, Single lesion and lesion types, Protoplast regenerated isolates, Race shift and evaluation, Discrepancies; Chapter 8: Varietal Resistance; Evaluation of varietal resistance, Uniform blast nursery, Use of established races, Method of inoculation, Identification of resistance source, Method of scoring; Chapter 9: Physiology of Host Plants; Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Silica, Growth regulators, Amino acids; Chapter 10: Host-Pathogen Interaction; Genotype-nyctotemperature; Chapter 11: Nature of Resistance; Host surface interaction, Constituent chemical compounds, Toxins, Phenols, Phytoalexins, Enzymes, Permeability changes; Chapter 12: Disease Resistance; Cross protection, Induced resistance, Pathogenicity and virulence, Inheritance of resistance, Horizontal/ vertical resistance, Durable resistance, Gene rotation, Single gene addition, Gene pyramiding, Multiline concept; Chapter 13: The Disease; Source of primary infection, Predisposing factors favouring infection, Mode of infection and spread, Epidemiology, Forecasting, Disease feature, Simulation models; Chapter 14: Disease Control; Breeding for resistance, Cultural practices, Chemical control, Antibiotics, Fungicidal/antibiotic resistance, Cross resistance against fungicides, Botanical pesticides, Biocontrol, Evaluation of long term control; Chapter 15: Research Highlights; In retrospect.