Biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani in Basmati Rice by the Application of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Weissella confusa

Rice is a staple food crop and is a major source of employment and income in the world. But attack of fungal disease poses a serious threat to the crop growth and productivity and leads toward yield loses. Therefore, current study was performed to evaluate the biocontrol potential of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Weissella confusa in basmati rice against Rhizoctonia solani. Agar disc method was performed to evaluate the antifungal activity of both bacteria against R. solani. Petri plate and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the growth promotion and biocontrol potential of both bacteria in Basmati rice under R. solani stress. Results indicated that maximum antifungal activity (82%) was recorded by L. rhamnosus . In petri plate experiment, maximum root length was resulted by W. confusa and maximum shoot length by L. rhamnosus . In pot experiment, both bacteria enhanced the growth of Basmati rice. L. rhamnosus + R. solani showed increase in the proline and sugar contents. Plant defense enzymes i-e SOD, POD, CAT, PPO and PAL were notably increased by W. confusa + R. solani and L. rhamnosus + R. solani. The L. rhamnosus showed the best results in antifungal activity against R. solani and W. confusa showed the best results in production of defense enzymes in basmati rice against R. solani stress and can be suggested as the potent biocontrol agents for the rice crop.