Aims: To characterize the geo-distinct isolates of Ustilaginoidea virens for morpho-molecular and mating-type locus diversity. Methods and Results: Sixty-one isolates of U. virens collected from Southern India exhibited significant diversity in mycelial width (3Á45-5Á50 µm), colony colour (yellow, pale yellow, and white), and growth pattern (thick leather mat, raised-fluffy, flat-fluffy, and raised). Field-borne chlamydospores of each isolate were significantly smaller in size (3Á34-5Á26 µm 2 ) compared to those formed on culture media (18Á6-100Á89 µm 2 ). The phylogenetic study based on internal transcribed sequences revealed two clusters; however, most isolates (n = 54) were grouped in cluster-I, indicating common ancestral origin. We also identified 42 haplotypes; among them, Hap_3 has the highest number of isolates (n = 19). Mating-type locus (MAT1) analysis revealed all sixty-one isolates as heterothallic, wherein 37 and 24 isolates belonging to MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 heterothallic mating types, respectively. The microsynteny analysis of MAT1 loci of one of the Indian strain (Uv-Gvt) along with Uv-8b (China) strain revealed synteny conservation at MAT1 locus, which is flanked by conserved genes SLA2 and a hypothetical protein in the upstream and APN2, COX12 and APC5 in the downstream of the locus. Conclusions: Morpho-molecular study revealed the significant diversity among geo-distinct isolates, and MAT1 loci analysis indicated the distribution of heterothallic mating types in south Indian paddy fields. And also, complete synteny conservation between Indian and Chinese strain was observed at the MAT1 locus. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report describing the sexuality of Indian strains of the U. virens, which would help better understand the genetic diversity of the U. virens prevailing in Southern India and aid in developing resistant rice cultivars against this pathogen population.
A new combination fungicide Tricyclazole 22.5% W/V (20.36% W/W) + Azoxystrobin 7.5% W/V (6.79% W/W) was tested against rice sheath blight diseases under field condition during Kharif 2015 and Rabi 2015-16. The combination fungicide Tricyclazole 22.5% W/V (20.36% W/W) + Azoxystrobin 7.5% W/V (6.79% W/W) at 1000 ml/ha was found effective against sheath blight diseases by recording least Percent Disease Index (PDI) of 14.44 during Kharif 2015 and 13.35 during Rabi 2015-16. Significant increase in grain yield (61.53 q/h) was also observed in the plots treated with Tricyclazole 22.5% W/V
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