Sheath blight: A big challenge of rice growers in India and its management approches through IPM

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food for human being all over the world and India is the second largest producer and consumer of rice at global level. Production of rice in India is limited by several biotic and abiotic factors. Among the fungal diseases, Sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (Teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris Frank) is one of the most important diseases of rice. The disease causes yield losses up to 69%. Normally the disease appears at maximum tillering stage. The disease is soil-borne in nature. The sclerotia produced by the fungus are the main source of survival of the pathogen. Once infection occurs, secondary spread take place through direct contact. Rice cultivars that are short, high tillering, more erect and responsive to high fertilizer doses are more susceptible to the sheath blight. The management of sheath blight has not been successful because adequate level of resistance has not found. In these article symptoms, disease cycle, factors affecting disease development and management of sheath blight are briefly described through integrated pest management (IPM) approaches.