Seed inoculation of rice varieties of BPT-5204, MAS-26 and MAS 946-1 by soaking of seeds in conidial suspension (105 condial/ml) of Sarocladium oryzae overnight was carried out in two factorial complete randomized design (CRD). Significant differences were observed among inoculation techniques (inoculated vs control) and among varieties as indicated by reduced plant in seed inoculated plants as compared to that of control. The detached tiller assay experiment was carried out three factorial CRD showed significant differences among inoculation techniques and varieties. Enlarged lesion (3.25 cm) was observed in susceptible variety BPT-5204 within 14 days after inoculation as compared to resistant variety HP-14 (1.4 cm). Foliar inoculation and cotton swabbing with conidial suspension (10⁵ conidia/ml) during peak vegetative stage to booting stage in BPT-5204 showed enlarged lesion whereas resistant breeding line HP-14 took no infection and found highly resistant to sheath rot disease. In attached tiller assay and standard grain inoculation, lesion development was observed within 15 days after inoculation. Development of sheath rot lesion was observed within 72 hours of inoculation with mycelial mat in detached leaf sheath assay and detached leaf assay. Seed inoculation, detached tiller assay and foliar inoculation with conidial suspension (10⁵ conidia/ml) were recommended for large scale screening of germplasm, breeding lines and phenotyping of mapping population.