A comprehensive insight into the biology of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA Kühn, the causal organism of the sheath blight disease of rice

Sheath Blight (ShB) disease of rice is a disease of significant importance caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA. Several published reports state that the disease is capable to destroy rice yield and grain quality up to 50%. DeCandolle (1815) first introduced the genus concept of Rhizoctonia and the fungus, R. solani AG1-IA (Teleomorph Thanatephorous cucumeris Frank. Donk) belongs to the phylum Basidiomycota, and family Ceratobasidiaceae. This pathogenic fungus creates early symptoms on the ‘leaf sheaths’ of rice plants as circular, oval or ellipsoid, water-soaked spots which are greenish-gray in color. This review comprehensively focuses on the morphology of the pathogen, disease spread and epidemiology, control measures, the genetics of the pathogen, and the current trends in sheath blight research.