Antagonistic potential and growth promoting activities of novel indigenous strains of <i>Trichoderma</i>

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), as a cereal grain, is the most widely consumed staple food for large part of world’s human population, especially in Asia and Africa. production often subjected to several biotic abiotic stresses. sheath blight one destructive diseases causing economic losses rice yields affecting quality worldwide. Twenty soil samples were collected from rhizosphere crop different regions Northern Karnataka. Trichoderma spp. isolated rhizospheric samples. The antagonistic potential was studied using dual culture technique. Among twenty strains highest inhibition (>50%) recorded nine which ranged 54.20 65.10 per cent. harzianum seed germination (100%), root length (13.73 cm), shoot (8.64 cm) seedling vigour index. In pot experiment, significantly improved growth parameters such length, number tillers plant. treatments, treatment + dipping foliar spray with T. strain highly effective increasing index at 30, 60 90 days after sowing. This found inhibiting pathogen promoting plants.