The bakanae (foolish seedling) disease of rice is caused by

✅ Explanation: Bakanae disease, also known as foolish seedling disease, is a fungal disease that affects rice seedlings. It is caused by the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi, which produces gibberellins, a type of plant growth hormone. The excessive gibberellin production by the fungus leads to abnormal elongation of the seedlings, making them tall and weak, hence the name "foolish seedling."

📌 Other Options Explanations:
-Claviceps fuziformis: This fungus causes ergot disease in cereals.
-Xanthomonas oryzae: This bacterium causes bacterial leaf blight in rice.

🔑Key Points :
-Bakanae or “foolish seedling” in Japanese is a common seedling disease in rice caused by the fungus Fusarium fujikuroi (Gibberella fujikuroi).
-It grows within the plant after it infects plants through the roots and crowns.
-In this disease, Infected plants are abnormally tall with pale, thin leaves, produce fewer tillers, and produce only partially filled or empty grains.
-Japanese scientist Eiichi Kurosawa identified that foolish seedling disease In 1926.
-Gibberellins are natural plant hormones with practicalapplications in agriculture and brewing.
-Some strains of the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi (perfect stage of Fusarium moniliforme) is the industrial source of gibberellic acid.
-Erysiphe is a genus of fungi and they are plant pathogens which cause powdery mildew disease.
-Phytophthora is a genus of plant-damaging water molds, affects many plants.
-Albugo is a genus of plant-parasitic oomycetes or water molds, it also causes diseases to many plants.