Insect‐borne viruses of rice and the Green Revolution

During the last 25 years there have been big increases in rice production in tropical areas associated with the introduction of high‐yielding varieties and the increased use of irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides. The increases in productivity have been achieved despite the losses due to many pests and diseases. This paper considers the five important virus diseases of tropical rice, some of the reasons for their increased prevalence and the measures being adopted for their control.