Sheath Blight of rice: A review of host plant interaction and disease management

Abstract

The devastating pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, which is responsible for significant quality and production losses worldwide, is discussed in this review article along with the symptoms, disease cycle, epidemiology which causes sheath blight disease in rice. R. solani Kuhn, poses a significant threat to tropical Asia's rice production, potentially reducing grain yield by 50%. The article also emphasises the numerous management techniques, such as cultural, biological, and chemical controls. It is a severe production bottleneck in high yielding rice varieties under intensive rice production techniques, monoculture methods, a dense canopy, and extensive nitrogen management. Disease propagation in fields is influenced by air temperature, moisture content, and leaf wetness, with 16-25 C temperature range and 90% humidity favoring growth. Vertical and horizontal spread are influenced by these factors. The article provides comprehensive insight on host plant interaction of pathogen R. solani.