Assessing the Status of Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight Disease of Maize (Zea mays L.) Caused by Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii in West Bengal, India

Maize is one of the most important cereal crops grown under diverse environments due to its range of plasticity. It is called the “Queen of Cereals” because of its highest yield potential. Various diseases significantly affect maize crops, with banded leaf and sheath blight being particularly impactful, leading to substantial reductions in crop yield. This study examined the prevalence of banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) in maize across various districts of West Bengal during 2020 and 2021. The findings revealed significant spatial and temporal variations in the incidence of BLSB. Districts such as North 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur demonstrated consistently high levels of disease severity, whereas Darjeeling recorded the lowest incidence. However, localized disease persistence was observed in regions like Uttar Dinajpur and Paschim Medinipur. The research underscored the considerable variability in susceptibility to BLSB across various maize cultivars. Notably, the Syngenta Babycorn variety exhibited a consistently elevated vulnerability to this pathogen, indicating a potential area for targeted mitigation strategies. The findings emphasize the need for integrated disease management strategies, including resistant varieties and cultural practices to mitigate BLSB.