Biological control of tomato damping off caused by Rhizoctonia solani

In vitro evaluation was conducted with twenty four isolates representing two different species Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride and twelve different Baccillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescence. These potential biocontrol agents were tested for their efficacy against phytopathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani through dual culture technique. Therefore, these effective biocontrol agents can be used for greenhouse studies to confirm the feasibility of using in tomato damping off disease management. The lowest incidence (38.33 per cent) of pre emergence damping off was recorded in T6 (seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescence-2 + soil application with Trichoderma harzianum -1). Among the bio-control treatments the lowest (43.75 and 48.33) post emergence damping off incidence was recorded in T6 (seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescence-3 + soil application with Trichoderma harzianum -1) at 30 and 50 DAS. The combination Trichoderma harzianum -1and Pseudomonas fluorescence-2 bacterial biocontrol agents (T5 and T6) treatment also proved effective in increasing the shoot and root weight and fresh and dry weight of tomato plants when inoculated with Rhizoctonia solani.