Scientists Unravel the Fungus Responsible for Sheath Blight Disease in Rice

A team of scientists at Delhi-based National Institute of Plant Genome Research has unraveled the genomic diversity associated with aggressiveness of two Indian strains of Rhizoctonia solani, the fungal pathogen that causes the dreaded Sheath Blight disease in rice.

Key Features

• The researchers have identified several genes and gene families in the strain that might account for their disease aggressiveness. This genomic insight is expected to help develop rice varieties resistant to sheath blight disease.
• Sheath Blight disease is a major issue in rice cultivation. It can cause up to 60 per cent reduction in rice yield. It is difficult to ....