Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens Formulations on Sheath Blight of Rice

The present investigation was undertaken to find out the effectivity of different formulations and rates Pseudomonas fluorescens stains 1 and 5 against sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani and yield parameters of rice, under glasshouse conditions. Talc + CMC based formulation of the bio-agent exhibited maximum reduction of disease severity (56.6%); incidence (32.2%) and increasing grain yield (31.2%) and 1000-grain weight (11.1%). Formulation of the bio-agent prepared with Talc or CaCO3 were next in order of effectivity against the disease. Of the three rates viz., 2, 4 and 8 g/litre of the bacterial bio-agent (P. fluorescens) tested, higher rate (8 g/litre) was found highly effective in reducing disease severity (60.0%), incidence (35.6%) and increasing grain yield (33.8%) and 1000-grain weight (12.9%). Lower rate of the bio-agent(s) though effective against the disease but was found inferior as compared to higher rates.