Thiamine primed defense provides reliable alternative to systemic fungicide carbendazim against sheath blight disease in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

► Sheath blight disease deteriorated growth and yield of basmati rice. ► Thiamine priming of seeds showed augmented level of systemic resistance in rice. ► Higher levels of PAL, MnSOD and NR validated mode of thiamine-induced resistance. ► Efficacy of thiamine was at par with that of systemic fungicide, carbendazim. ► Physiological traits influenced under pathogen infection were detectable at early stage.