a Strain Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 was applied as seed treatment (ST) before sowing, as seedling root dip (SD) on 25-day-old seedlings prior to transplanting, and foliar spray (FS) at 45 d after transplanting. The same as following tables; b Sheath blight severity was calculated according to
relative lesion height method at 52 d after transplanting; c Number of tillers per plant was taken at 60 d after transplanting.