October 2013. Symptoms of sudden death of rice have been seen in Yen Dung district, Bac Giang province, northern Vietnam. The situation is described as follows:

• When symptoms are first seen the root system is 80-90% dead.
• The population of panicle rice mites Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley) is very high.
• This symptom occurs mainly on Khang dan variety but also on others.
• The time from initial to the last symptom is about 7-10 days only.

Is it possible that the panicle rice mite can lead to the dead of the whole root system of rice plants?

A member from Mexico said that they had found the same mite and fungus affecting large areas of rice. The fungus was also recorded in Western Australia in 2012. A note to that affect is recorded here.

It was also said that this mite is common is southern China and some parts of Southeat Asia. Papers on the rice mite were sent to Pestnet. They can be accessed here: A review of tarsonemidae, and Steneotarsonemus spinki.