Integrated and sustainable approaches for the management of rice sheath blight: A comprehensive review of current insights and future prospects

Abstract

Rice sheath blight (ShB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (teleomorph Thanatephorus cucumeris), represents one of the most devastating fungal diseases of rice worldwide, second only to blast in its economic impact. The pathogen’s broad host range, soil-borne survival structures, and efficient dissemination mechanisms contribute to its persistence and epidemic potential, particularly under high-input rice production systems. Yield losses of 20-50% are common under favorable conditions. This review consolidates current knowledge on the biology, epidemiology, and management of rice sheath blight, emphasizing recent advances in genetic resistance and biotechnological interventions. The influence of environmental, agronomic, and nutritional factors on disease development is critically examined, alongside the role of cultivar architecture and cropping practices in disease epidemiology. Management strategies encompassing cultural, chemical, and biological control are evaluated, with attention to integrated disease management (IDM) approaches that minimize environmental impact. Although chemical fungicides such as strobilurins and phenylureas remain effective, their overreliance has led to concerns regarding resistance development and ecological safety. Biological control agents, particularly Trichoderma, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas spp., along with botanicals and nanoparticle-based fungicides, have emerged as sustainable alternatives. Advances in quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and gene editing (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9) offer promising avenues for breeding sheath blight-resistant rice cultivars. Despite these developments, complete resistance has yet to be identified, underscoring the complexity of host-pathogen interactions. The integration of resistant cultivars, optimized agronomic practices, and eco-friendly biocontrol methods provides the most viable framework for long-term management of rice sheath blight.