Spatial Distribution Patterns for Identifying Risk Areas Associated with False Smut Disease of Rice in Southern India

False smut disease (FSD) of rice incited by Ustilaginoidea virens is an emerging threat to paddy cultivation worldwide. We investigated the spatial distribution FSD in different ecosystems South Indian states, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, considering exploratory data from 111 sampling sites. Point pattern surface interpolation analyses were carried out identify patterns across studied areas. The clusters confirmed employing autocorrelation Ripley’s K function. Further, ordinary kriging (OK), indicator (IK), inverse distance weighting (IDW) used create maps predicting values at unvisited locations. agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis using average linkage method identified four main FSD. From Local Moran’s I statistic, most areas Pradesh Nadu clustered together (at > 0), except coastal interior districts Karnataka < 0). Spatial severity determined semi-variogram experimental models, spherical model was best fit. Results technique, potential hot spots/risk majorly a few traditional rice-growing Northern Karnataka. This first intensive study that attempted understand geostatistical approaches India. findings this would help setting up ecosystem-specific management strategies reduce spread