Sheath blight management in rice with biocontrol agents

Bacteria antagonistic to sheath blight pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn were isolated from different sources. Three selected bacteria viz. PF-9 (Fluorescent Pseudomonas sp.), B-44 (Bacillus sp.) and Chb-I (chitinolytic bacterium) were evaluated against sheath blight disease of rice both under glass house and field conditions. They were found to be compatible with carbendazim (Bavistin) at 500 ppm and 1000 ppm concentration. Among them PF-9 was most effective in reducing the disease severity either alone or in