Step 1: Understanding the question.
The question asks for the name of the disease affecting rice plants that causes them to grow tall, thin, and pale. This is a typical description of Bakane disease.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) Rust disease: Rust disease affects the leaves of plants, causing spots and not typically leading to the described symptoms.
(B) Hill bunt disease: This disease affects the grain of rice, causing grain abnormalities, not the described symptoms.
(C) Bakane disease: Correct — This disease is characterized by rice plants growing tall, thin, and pale due to a hormonal imbalance caused by the infection.
(D) Black-rot disease: This disease typically affects vegetables like cabbage, not rice, and does not match the described symptoms.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (C) Bakane disease, which causes rice plants to grow tall, thin, and pale.