Development of sheath blight caused by Thanatephorus cucumeris on no-till and non-paddy rice plants treated with compound fertilizers.

Epidemics of sheath blight caused by Thanatephorus cucumeris, on no-till and non-paddy rice plants were compared with those on conventionally tilled rice plants in paddy fields treated with compound fertilizers from 1999 to 2001. The no-till rice plants grew more slowly, and produced fewer tillers than did conventional-till rice plants during early growth. Consequently, the length of time for sclerotia of the pathogen to attach to rice plants was delayed on no-till plants. The no-till rice plants had less primary infection by T. cucumeris than did conventional-till plants, and disease development also tended to be suppressed.