From rhizosphere soil of organic farming fields of major vegetable growing tracts
of Kerala, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma sp. were isolated. The antagonistic
activity of isolates was observed against Rhizoctonia solani. Biological control and
hormonal inducers represents an interesting strategy against pathogen especially when
applied together. Rice plants infected with R. solani were treated with Biocontrol agents
along with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and/or sprayed with hormonal inducers
(Salicylic acid). Plants were harvested on 14 and 28 days after pathogen infection growth
rate of the plant was measured. Plants treated with biocontrol agents alone showed
moderate growth. Likewise VAM alone treated plants showed very good result whereas
combination of VAM and salicylic acid did not show considerable growth response.
Biocontrol agents Trichoderma and P. fluorescens when applied along with salicylic acid
showed appraisable increase in the biometric parameters in rice against R. solani and
decrease the percentage of rate of infection compared with control and other treatments.