The cause of the symptoms was not known. Some members thought the damage was caused by birds. The cut parts may have been used to build nests. It is necessary to know if the cut pieces are still in the field or have been removed.

There was also a suggestion that the rolling of the leaves was caused by the white tip nematode, Aphelenchoides basseyi, and rice tarsonemid mites. It was conjectured that these two organisms then led to sheath rot.

The photos are really not clear enough to give a proper diagnosis.