Sclerotia viability of Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn.) at different soil depth & condition

Abstract

The survival of sheath blight pathogen was studied under different soil depth. The sclerotia survive for long periods and tend to accumulate in the soil. Therefore, the sclerotia of Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn., play an important role in the pathogen survival in rice fields. Sheath blight, caused by R. solani, is one of the most destructive diseases of rice in India. Sclerotia kept in small nylon bags were placed at different depths, viz., 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm depth and observed that the monthly intervals. Result was at 5 cm depth of soil was found highly viability fungus form of sclerotia in dry soil condition as compared to wet soil condition whereas, at depth of 20 cm was found less viability of sclerotia in dry soil condition as compared to wet soil condition.