Effect of bioagent application time against bacterial leaf blight of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Uyeda and Ishiyama) Dowson
Present investigation was carried out to test the effect of time of application on efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens formulations against bacterial leaf blight of rice, under field condition. Foliar sprays with bioagent(s) in three time sequences i.e. 7 days before, simultaneously and 7 days after inoculation of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae inoculation significantly reduced disease severity over check during Kharif 2006 and 2007. Maximum reduction in bacterial leaf blight disease was obtained with the application of T. harzianum on 7 days before inoculation of pathogen during Kharif 2006 and 2007 and maximum increase in grain yield was obtained with the application of PBA-2 seven days before inoculation of pathogen. It was revealed that prophylactic spray of bioagents one week prior to pathogen inoculation was significantly (106 cfu/g) effective in reducing disease severity of bacterial leaf blight of rice as compared to chemical treatment.