Individual and combined effects of certain pesticides on Rhizoctonia solani, sheath blight pathogen of rice

The effect of different pesticides (fungicide, herbicide and insecticide) on the mycelial growth and formation and germination of sclerotia of sheath blight pathogen of rice, Rhizoctonia solani Kühn was studied in nutrient medium and in natural soil. Among the herbicides and insecticides, fenitrothion (insecticide) and thiobencarb (herbicide) were the most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth and sclerotial formation. These pesticides effected significant inhibition of both mycelialgrowth and sclerotial formation at 7.5 to 10μg/ml concentration while fungicides carbendazim and tolclofosmethyl effected almost complete inhibition at 2.5 µg/ml. Interestingly, a synergistic increase in the toxicity to mycelial growth, sclerotial formation and sclerotial germination was noticed when the fungicide, mancozeb and the herbicide, thiobencarb were applied at subtoxic concentration in combination. Such synergistic interactions between pesticides in a combination leading to increased toxicity suggest that under the current practice of applying fungicides, herbicides and insecticides either simultaneously or in rotation, certain combinations may help in reducing the dose of a fungicide in disease control