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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330537
Title: The biology, identification and management of Rhizoctonia pathogens

Author
item JAMBHULKAR, PRASHANT - Maharana Pratap University Of Agriculture And Technology
item Lakshman, Dilip
item Roberts, Daniel
item SHARMA, PRATIBHA - Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Submitted to: Indian Phytopathology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2017
Publication Date: 4/29/2017
Citation: Jambhulkar, P.P., Lakshman, D.K., Roberts, D.P., Sharma, P. 2017. The biology, identification and management of Rhizoctonia pathogens. Indian Phytopathology. 69(4s):93-106.

Interpretive Summary: Rhizoctonia solani is an economically important soilborne pathogen causing economic losses to crops, vegetables, ornamentals, forest trees and turfgrasses. The pathogenic isolates may belong to diverse genera and species and are variously responsible for pre- or post-emergence damping off of seedlings, crown necrosis and root rots, aerial blights and wilts, fruit rots and post-harvest losses, accounting for 5-10% loss in yield and product quality. Many non-pathogenic isolates of R. solani are decomposers of soil organic matter, contributors to soil ecology, symbiotic on plants and may serve as biocontrol agents. Isolates of R. solani are morphologically grouped based on the number of nuclei per cell and by hyphal anastomosis reactions, which are often unreliable methods for precise pathogen detection. Recent approaches utilizing molecular markers, genome finger printing, and ITS sequencing have increased the speed, precision, and practicality of accurately identifying or grouping R. solani isolates. Current investigations on virulence and hypovirulence of R. solani at the genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels have helped in understanding its dynamic biological and pathogenic processes. This review discusses modern approaches, along with their potentials and limitations, for molecular identification and management of Rhizoctonia diseases. This information will be useful to scientists working in the field of plant pathology.

Technical Abstract: Rhizoctonia solani is an economically important soilborne pathogen causing economic losses to crops, vegetables, ornamentals, forest trees and turfgrasses. The pathogenic isolates may belong to diverse genera and species and are variously responsible for pre- or post-emergence damping off of seedlings, crown necrosis and root rots, aerial blights and wilts, fruit rots and post-harvest losses, accounting for 5-10% loss in yield and product quality. Many non-pathogenic isolates of R. solani are decomposers of soil organic matter, contributors to soil ecology, symbiotic on plants and may serve as biocontrol agents. Isolates of R. solani are morphologically grouped based on the number of nuclei per cell and by hyphal anastomosis reactions, which are often unreliable methods for precise pathogen detection. Recent approaches utilizing molecular markers, genome finger printing, and ITS sequencing have increased the speed, precision, and practicality of accurately identifying or grouping R. solani isolates. Current investigations on virulence and hypovirulence of R. solani at the genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels have helped in understanding its dynamic biological and pathogenic processes. This review discusses modern approaches, along with their potentials and limitations, for molecular identification and management of Rhizoctonia diseases. This information will be useful to scientists working in the field of plant pathology.