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Nature 437, 823-824 (6 October 2005) | doi:10.1038/437823a; Published online 5 October 2005

Microbiology: Conspirators in blight

Ian R. Sanders1

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A fungus and a bacterium have been found in a symbiotic alliance that attacks rice plants. Rice feeds more people than any other crop, but the significance of this finding extends beyond its potential agricultural use.

Rice suffers from a serious disease called seedling blight. The cause was thought to be a toxin released by some species of the fungal group Rhizopus.