Biocontrol Agents for The Management of Rhizoctonia Solani in Rice

Abstract

The sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani is an important disease in rice. The bacterial antagonists were tested for their potential to suppress R. solani in dual cultures. Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate 27 was effective in reducing the mycelial growth and sclerotial number of R. solani followed by Pf 2. In pot culture also, seed bacterization, root bacterization and foliar spray with Pf 27 individually controlled the rice sheath blight disease very effectively. Bacillus subtilis had little effect in reducing the sheath blight disease intensity.