Ninety seven isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae collected from different locations of south India were evaluated to understand the mating type distribution and fertility of isolates by using MAT locus specific primers, forty six isolates showed mating MAT1-1, forty two showed mating type MAT1-2, seven isolates showed hermaphrodite and two unknown mating type. The observation that both mating-types were present in the states and districts of south India, suggests the possibility of sexual recombination in nature and this can affect diversity and dissemination. Clonal reproduction and sexual recombination may be the possible reasons for the population dynamics of M. oryzae in South India. Populations showing evidence for both types mating types may be assayed for fertility using a range of tester isolates from different regions. As locally obtained hermaphrodite isolates of both mating types from this study may be used as testers for a systematic survey of local field isolates in future.