Effect of biocontrol agents against Pyricularia oryzae causing paddy blast

Paddy blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most destructive diseases of rice occurring widely in different parts of the world. Effect of different fungal and bacterial biocontrol agents has been studied for the management of paddy blast. Among four fungal bioagents, Trichoderma harzianum (JMA-4) and T. koningii (JMA-11) recorded 100 and 86.25 per cent inhibition in mycelial growth of blast pathogen, respectively. Among seven bacterial bioagents tested, two isolates namely AM16 and AB7 of Pseudomonas spp. showed 79.07 and 69.75 per cent mycelial inhibition of P. oryzae under in vitro conditions.