L. PRAVEEN KUMAR, S.R. NIRANJANA*, 1-i.S. PRAKASH AND H. SHEKAR SHETTY
Abstract
A talc powder based formulation of an antagonistic strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens (ABPf-1) isolated from the rhizosphere of rice plants in India was tested for its efficacy in the control of seed- borne fungi. Talcum based formulation of P. ftuorescens (27 x 107 cfu g1) at the rate of 5 g kg-' and 10 g kg-' of seeds were used. The treated seeds were evaluated for per cent reuuction of Altemaria padwickii and Bipolaris oryzae, seed germination, vigour index and field emergence. The formulation was effective in reducing the A. padwickii and B. oryzae infection. Also, saprophytic fungi like Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Cladosporium cladosporoides and Curvularia lunata were inhibited on seeds. The treated seeds showed improved germination and the seedlings exhibited increased vigour and field emergence in comparison with control. The possibilities of using powdered talc formulation of ABPf-1 strain of P. fluorescens in routine seed treatments are discussed.