Varilo Pamupoda nivarana | Management of Rice Sheath Blight |

Rice sheath blight constitutes a significant pathological challenge in rice cultivation, with the potential to drastically affect both yield and quality. Under optimal conditions for disease development, sheath blight has the capacity to cause yield reductions of up to 50%. This disease primarily inflicts damage on the leaves, sheaths, and panicles of the rice plant, leading to decreased rates of seed setting. Furthermore, it can induce pre- and post-emergence seedling blight, banded leaf blight, panicle infection, and seed spotting.

The etiological agent responsible for sheath blight is the soilborne fungus Rhizoctonia solani, which is known for its broad host range, affecting in excess of 200 plant species. Management of this disease predominantly involves the application of chemical fungicides along with the implementation of cultural practices designed to minimize disease proliferation and impact.

In this video presentation, we offer a detailed overview of rice sheath blight, focusing on its symptoms, impact on rice cultivation, and the biology of Rhizoctonia solani. Additionally, we provide recommendations for important fungicides that have been proven effective in controlling this disease, based on current research and best practices in agronomy@Farmer Care_రైతు సంరక్షణ