- Lahoratory studies were carried out at the Escola Superïor de Agricultura de Lavras, ESAL, in Lavras, MG, Brazil, in the 1988/89 crop season, with the objective of evaluating the influence of spacing and sowing density upon the incidence of pathogens on (unirrigated) dry land rice seeds. The seeds used in the test came from a field experirnent in which four inter-row spacings (30; 40; 50 e 60cm) and four sowing densities (10; 60; 80 and 100 seeds/linear m) were adopted. The blotter test incubation method was used for pathogen detection. The blolter test incubation rnethod was used for pathogen detection. ln the experimental conditions of the test and based in the interpretation of the results it was possible to conclude that the 30cm spacing and lhe 60 seed/linear m density showed lesser incidence of the fungi Pyricularia oryzae and Helminthosporium oriyzae in the rice seeds of the cultivar Guarani.