Biological control of Rhizoctonia solani, the causal agent of sheath blight in foxtail millet

Sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most serious diseases worldwide. The disease is currently managed only by the excessive application of chemical fungicides which are toxic and not environmentally friendly. Therefore, greater emphasis should be given to biological control as being both safe and effective. A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2017, at Agricultural Research Station, Vizianagaram for the management of banded sheath blight disease in foxtail millet by using potential bio control agents viz., Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma asperellum. Lowest sheath blight intensity (45.33%) was recorded in T7 (i.e. Soil application of value added P. fluorescens + T. asperellum + B. subtilis (one kg talc formulation mixed in 25 kg FYM or vermicompost, incubated for 15 days) applied over an acre at the time of sowing) and the highest (62.67%) in T4 whereas it was 92.00% in the control. In mean of all locations the lowest sheath blight intensity (29.24) was recorded in T7 i.e. soil application of value added P. fluorescens + T. asperellum + B. subtilis (one kg talc formulation mixed in 25 kg FYM or vermicompost, incubated for 15 days) and the highest (43.09%) in T2 whereas it was 63.59% in the control.