Rice sheath rot caused by Sarocladium oryzae is an emerging fungal disease is spreading over many rice growing areas in Konkan region of Maharashtra. The screening for disease resistance is essential to identify the resistant source. Thirty-five varieties were screened under artificial and natural epiphytotic conditions during Kharif, 2021 and Kharif, 2022. Among thirty-five rice varieties evaluated against sheath rot under artificial epiphytotic conditions revealed that, Ratnagiri Purple variety showed moderately resistant reaction to sheath rot with 3.55 and 4.44 per cent disease severity in Kharif, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Thirteen rice varieties were moderately susceptible, sixteen were susceptible and five rice varieties viz., Karjat 7 (78.22 % and 75.55 %), Karjat 8 (64.44 % and 65.77 %), Karjat 9 (71.11 % and 73.77 %), Palghar 2 (70.67 % and 72.44 %) and Ratnagiri 73 (74.66 % and 75.11%) were found highly susceptible during both the season in artificial and natural condition also. Among thirty-five rice varieties evaluated against sheath rot under natural epiphytotic conditions during Kharif, 2021 and Kharif, 2022, result revealed that, Ratnagiri Purple variety showed moderately resistant reaction, thirteen rice varieties were found moderately susceptible reaction, sixteen rice varieties were found susceptible reaction, five rice varieties viz., Karjat 7, Karjat 8, Karjat 9, Palghar 2 and Ratnagiri 73 were found highly susceptible reaction in Kharif, 2021 and Kharif, 2022.

Sarocladium oryzae, Rice, Susceptible, Moderately resistant

Based on above findings it was observed that none of the variety was highly resistant or resistant against sheath rot. Among the thirty-five rice varieties, Ratnagiri Purple variety showed moderately resistant against sheath rot of rice under natural and artificial epiphytotic conditions.

Sahane P.A., Pushpa Patil, Joshi M.S., Desai V.S. and Waghmode B.D. (2023). Varietal Screening of Rice against Sheath Rot under Natural and Artificial Epiphytotic Conditions. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(12): 86-90.