Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight of Maize: Historical Perspectives, Current Status and Future Directions

Abstract

Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii causing banded leaf and sheath blight disease is one of the important pathogens of maize. It has rapidly gained economic importance in several parts ofworld and has potential to inflict economic loss up to 100 %. The disease, which is more prevalent in humid weather with temperature of around 28 C, poses challenge to maize growers due to its soil borne nature and lack of resistant cultivars. The disease is difficult to control through either fungicides or crop rotation alone. Inheritance studies have indicated digenic and oligogenic nature of disease resistance. Quantitative trait loci controlling banded leaf and sheath blight have recently been identified that would facilitate the development of maize hybrids resistant to this disease. Therefore, a combination ofmanagement practices is required for control of banded leaf and sheath blight. The present paper reviews the available information on various aspects such as distribution, yield loss, symptoms, pathogen life cycle, epidemiology, creation of artificial disease epiphytotics and its integrated management through cultural, biological, chemical and genetic means. The consolidated knowledge presented in this review should help better disease management and reduce crop loss due to banded leaf and sheath blight.