Managing the Imminent Danger of Rice Blast (<i>Pyricularia oryzae</i> Cav.) and Sheath Blight (<i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> Kühn) Disease: A Critical Review Article

Abstract

Rice is one of the most important crop planted on earth. It provide food and employment for thousands of persons daily through out the world. In Guyana the rice industry is one of the largest user of agricultural lands and contributies more than 20% to the country gross domestic product (GDP). The rice crop is known to suffer from several biotic and abiotic factors. Of which rice blast (<i>P. oryzae</i>) and sheath blight (<i>R. solani</i>) disease identified as two of the most devastating disease affecting the rice cultivation in Guyana. In this context, the present critical review article entitled ‘Managing the imminent danger of Rice Blast (<i>Pyricularia oryzae</i> Cav.) and Sheath Blight (<i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> Kühn) Disease’ was taken up to look at the most practical disease management approaches available and can be utilized to mitigate the imminent threat pose by the rice blast and sheath blight disease. The review will focus on: disease resistant screening and understand the genotype and environment interactions; study the expression pattern of proteins in resistant and susceptible genotypes against blast pathogen (<i>P. oryzae</i>); examine the efficacy of botanicals, biocontrol agents and new generation fungicides against blast and sheath blight disease under different conditions. This will form a foundation for the exploration of the various disease management stratigies for blast and sheath blight disease.