Report on the Occurrence of Atypical Fungal Pathogens Isolated from Rice Fields in Haenam, Korea, in 2025

During July 2025 in Haenam, Korea, abnormal weather conditions, including prolonged rainfall, elevated temperatures, and sustained humidity, were observed. To assess potential shifts in rice-associated fungal communities under these conditions, 32 symptomatic rice samples were collected and subjected to fungal isolation and internal transcribed spacer-based identification. Unlike the typical dominance of Magnaporthe oryzae, Bipolaris oryzae, and Rhizoctonia solani, a high frequency of Alternaria spp. and other fungi not traditionally regarded as major rice pathogens were recovered. This brief note summarizes the fungal diversity observed during this unusual climatic period and highlights the potential emergence of opportunistic or previously overlooked fungi in Korean rice fields. The information is intended to guide local farmers and field managers in monitoring atypical disease symptoms.