Pseudomonas fluorescens on biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani in rice

The paddy rhizosphere soil sample was collected from 10 locations in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. The Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates were characterized by Gram staining, motility test, plating on selective medium and performing biochemical tests. The Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates were designated as PF -1 to PF - 10. The ten Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates obtained from the rhizosphere of paddy were tested for their efficiency of plant growth promoting substance production. Maximum production was recorded by the isolate PF-8 and minimum production was found in PF-4. The antagonistic activity of Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates against Rhizoctonia solani was also investigated. The combined effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens and salicylic acid on the growth & yield of paddy was investigated in the present study. Among the six treatments, T6 (Pseudomonas fluorescens seed application + Salicylic acid applied on 30th day) showed maximum plant height, nitrogen content, number of tillers per plant, leaf area index, dry matter production, number of panicles per hill, number of filled grains per panicle, thousand grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and biochemical constituents