Weedy rice: an emerging threat to rice cultivation and options for its management.

Weedy rice, evolved largely by natural hybridization between wild and cultivated rice, is an emerging threat to rice cultivation as it affects crop production, harvest quality and thereby farmers' income. With diverse biotypes, this conspecific weed has already infested large rice-growing areas across the globe and with no selective herbicide available for its control varied cultural practices are being used to manage it. These include use of clean machinery, certified seeds, stale seed-bed technique, land preparation, crop rotation, use of purple coloured cultivars and many more. However, an integrated approach is essential to manage weedy rice as the problem is yet to aggravate with changing climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]