The increased number of sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani)-resistant rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars available will allow producers to use less fungicide and avoid significant reductions in grain and milling yields.
Among cultivars currently in cultivation in the southern United States, sheath blight resistance levels range from very susceptible to moderately resistant.
A study was conducted to determine the response of cultivars, with different levels of susceptibility, to sheath blight inoculations and fungicide application and to determine the impact of sheath blight disease development on rice yield and quality