SHEATH BLIGHT, CAUSED BY RHIZOCTONIA SOLANI AGI- IA, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNGAL DISEASE OF RICE AFTER BLAST WORLDWIDE. THE DISEASE LESIONS CAN EXPAND RAPIDLY ON THE PLANT, AND FINALLY LEAD TO PLANT DEATH. CONTROL OF RICE SHEATH BLIGHT IS DIFFICULT DUE TO THE HIGH GENETIC VARIABILITY, WIDE HOST RANGE OF THE PATHOGEN, ITS ABILITY TO SURVIVE IN SOIL FOR A LONG TIME AND THE LOW INHERENT LEVEL OF Resistance OF RICE CULTIVARS AGAINST THIS DISEASE. …