Pathogenic variability of Rhizoctonia solani isolates causing banded leaf and sheath blight of maize in Andhra Pradesh
Roving survey was conducted in major maize growing areas covering Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states during Kharif 2010 to record occurrence of banded leaf and sheath blight disease and diversity among naturally occurring populations of Rhizoctonia solani, the incitant of banded leaf and sheath blight of maize. The disease severity in these areas ranged from 28.3 to 66.6 per cent. Pathogenic variability among the R. solani isolates revealed that isolate RS 11 from Khammam district with maximum Per cent disease incidence, shortest latent period and maximum relative lesion lengths is most virulent, while the isolate RS 6 from Nizamabad district with minimum PDI, longest latent period was least virulent.