Genetic Structure and Aggressiveness of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA, the Cause of Sheath Blight of Rice in Southern China

One hundred and eighty isolates of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA, the causal agent of rice sheath blight, were obtained from six locations in southern China. The genetic structure of R.solani isolates was investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, and a considerable genetic variation among R.solani isolates was observed. Most of the genetic diversity was distributed within populations, rather than among them. The distribution pattern of the genetic variation of R.solani appears to be the result of high gene flow (Nm) and low-genetic differentiation among populations. The aggressiveness of R.solani was visually assessed by rice seedlings of five different cultivars in the glasshouse. All isolates tested were found to induce significantly different levels of disease severity, reflecting considerable variation in aggressiveness. The isolates were divided into highly virulent, moderately virulent and weakly virulent groups, and the moderately virulent isolates were dominant in R.solani population. No significant correlation was observed among the genetic similarity, pathogenic aggressiveness and geographical origins of the isolates. Information obtained from this study may be useful for breeding for improved resistance to sheath blight.