Effect of different methods of application of the plant growth promoting bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula on the management of Meloidogyne graminicola Golden and Birchfield (1965) infecting rice

Investigations were carried out under glasshouse conditions to study the effect of different methods of application of Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula for the management of Meloidogyne graminicola Golden and Birchfield infecting rice. The plant growth promoting bacterium P. fluorescens was applied as seed treatment, soil application and a combination of both seed and soil application. Dual application of P. fluorescens both as seed treatment and soil application proved to be the most effective treatment with highest reduction of 60.18 per cent in nematode population in root and soil, and enhanced growth of rice seedlings. Colonization of P. fluorescens was the highest in roots (36.76 % 10* cfu/g) receiving the bacterium through seed treatment and soil application.