Eco-Friendly Management of Rice Stem Rot Using Talc-Based Formulations of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens

Rice is a major source of carbohydrate and the staple food for over half of world’s population. However, some diseases persistently cause significant trouble for its cultivation. Stem rot caused by Sclerotium oryzae poses a major constraint to the productivity and profitability of rice in Bangladesh. This study focused on the use of consortium of different antagonistic plant beneficial Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis for suppressing stem rot disease. During in vitro dual culture assay pathogen suppression by P. fluorescens isolate Pf‑7 (MN256393) and Pf‑8 (MN256394) (58.06% and 62.02%) and B. subtilis isolates Bs-17 (MN252542) and Bs-41 (MN252545) (86.13% and 85.32%) was highest among respective genus, indicating about 29.97% higher pathogen suppression efficacy of B. subtilis. In field trial as well, where after chemical fungicide, statistically similar and lowest disease incidence (35.75% and 38.25%) and severity (40.50% and 42.50%) was recorded in T₁₂ (Root dipping of seedlings in consortium of Bs-17 + Bs-41 formulated in talc for 24 h) and T₆ (Root dipping of seedlings in consortium of Bs-17 + Bs-41 formulated in talc for 12 h) respectively. T₁₂ also demonstrated highest vegetative growth and yield like plant height (53.89 cm), number of tillers/hill (25.89), number of leaves/hill (60.44), total panicles/hill (26.55), total grains/panicle (162.89) with yield (743.73 g/m²) which was the highest among the antagonistic biological treatments. Therefore, Root dipping of seedlings in consortium of Bs-17 + Bs-41 formulated in talc for 24 h can be an eco-friendly alternative for controlling stem rot of rice.