Effect of Azospirillum brasiliense on incidence of sheath blight [Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn)] on basmati rice, its growth parameters and yield

Abstract

Paddy (Oryza sativa L.) is a cereal grain and in its domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Basmati rice is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice which is traditionally grown in the Indian subcontinent, mainly India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. A field experiment was conducted at Central Research Field, SHUATS, Prayagraj in the Kharif season of 2023-2024 under in vitro conditions to evaluate the efficacy of Azospirillum brasiliense against Sheath Blight [Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn)] of basmati rice and to check its growth parameters and yield. The most effective treatment was T2 (Azospirillum brasilense SD @ 30 ml/l + FS @ 300 ml/ha) which significantly increased plant height (121.26 cm), number of tillers (20.50), panicle length 28.40 cm), yield (4.80 t/ha) and B: C ratio 1:2.425 and significantly decreased plant disease intemsity (20.66%) when compared to treated check T6 (Carbendazim 50%WP @ 400 g/ha) and untreated check T0 (control).