Sheath Blight disease of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a destructive disease in rice growing areas of the world. It is distributed worldwide with the wide host range and causes substantial yield losses. Lack of durable sheath blight resistant rice varieties have led to develop sustainable control methods. The goal of the current investigation was to identify the most effective fungicides for the control of sheath blight. Nine fungicides were tested at two concentrations (recommended and half) in lab and field conditions against the rice sheath blight pathogen during the kharif season 2021. In vitro, Amistar Top (Azoxysrobin), Tilt (Propiconazole), Top Guard    (Flutrifol+Tebuconazole), Nativo (Tebuconazole + Trifloxystrobin), Topsin-M (Thiophanate Methyl), Kachaloo (Difenoconazole) were found most effective, and completely (100%) inhibited R. solani mycelial growth. Field trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of these fungicides in controlling sheath blight disease. The results showed that fungicides differed significantly in respect of lesion height per infected plant.  Application of Kachaloo (Difenoconazole) followed by Topsin-M (Thiophanate Methyl), Argyl Super (Clothaindine + Azoxysrobin), Nativo (Tebuconazole + Trifloxystrobin) was found most effective in suppressing the growth of pathogen and inhibited 81.31%, 80.96%, 74% and 73.22% disease respectively with half dose and 71.51%, 64.58%, 51.77% and 41.44 % with recommended dose as compare to control. Recommendation of the present studies regarding suitable fungicides for the control of sheath blight disease will help to the farmers to enhance their crop productivity by reducing the input cost.

Keywords: Rice, Sheath blight, Fungicides, Chemical control.