Anastomosis groups and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia isolates causing banded leaf and sheath blight on maize in Shanxi province of China

The anastomosis groups (AGs) of Rhizoctonia causing banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) on maize in the Shanxi province of China were identified. In total, 147 isolates of Ceratobasidium (2) and Rhizoctonia (145) were collected in 2017-2018 from maize sheaths in Shanxi province with symptoms of BLSB. Based on the number of nuclei, presence of hyphal anastomosis, and sequence analysis of ITS rDNA, 76 isolates (51.70%) were identified as belonging to Rhizoctonia solani AG-5, 38 (25.85%) as Rhizoctonia zeae (WAG-Z), 20 (13.61%) as Rhizoctonia solani AG-1-IA, 5 (3.40%) as R. solani AG-1-IB, 4 (2.72%) as R. solani AG-4-HGIII, 2 (1.36%) as R. solani AG-4-HGI, and 2 (1.36%) as Ceratobasidium sp. AG-K. All of the Rhizoctonia isolates produced symptoms of BLSB on maize seedlings with the disease incidence 45.16-93.33% and the disease index 15.32-55.00. Rhizoctonia solani AG-5 was the most common AG group causing BLSB in Shanxi province of China. To our knowledge, this is the first report on anastomosis groups of Rhizoctonia causing BLSB in Shanxi province of China.

Automated summary

Anastomosis groups of Rhizoctonia causing banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) on maize in Shanxi province of China were identified, with Rhizoctonia solani AG-5 being the most common pathogenic group. This study represents the first report on AGs of Rhizoctonia causing BLSB in Shanxi province, providing valuable information for disease management in maize cultivation.