Field experiments were carried out consecutively [Vol. 54(4) 2001] for two years during kharif 1998 and 1999 in the research farm, using three selected bacteria viz. PF-9 (fluorescent Pseudomonas sp.), Chb-I (chitinolytic bacteria), and B-44 (Bacillus sp.). The treatments included seed treatment, seedling treatment and two foliar application of selected antagonists. Seed and seedling treatments were always done with fluorescent pseudomonad isolate PF-9. In some of the treatments, the second foliar application of antagonist was substituted with an application of fungicide (0.1 %carbendazim). The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications. The seeds were grown in 2.0 x 2.5 m plots with N:P:K - 100:40:40. The inoculation was done at the maximum tillering stage in the middle I sq. m area (comprising of 49 hills). The first and second foliar spray of biocontrol agents were applied on second and tenth day following R. so/ani inoculation. The observations on disease severity on individual tillers in a hill were recorded 10 days after the final foliar application. Ten hills in each replication were recorded. The data were subjected to ANOV A following Gomez and Gomez (1984).