Commercial Potential of Microbial Inoculants for Sheath Blight Management and Yield Enhancement of Rice

Abstract

Sheath blight of rice is an economically significant disease worldwide. Use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), one type of microbial inoculants, for sheath blight management and yield enhancement of rice is gaining popularity in modern agriculture due to increasing concerns with the use of chemical fungicides. Among different microbial inoculants, PGPR are used for their growth-promoting activities and managing sheath blight in rice. However, the efficacy of experimental PGPR strains is typically not consistent under field conditions due to limited knowledge of their formulations, shelf life, delivery systems, compatibility with chemicals and agronomic practices, and the mode of action. In this chapter, a general review on scope and commercial potential of various PGPR for rice sheath blight management and yield enhancement is provided. Efficacy results obtained from tests with Integral®, a current commercial product, which contains the strain Bacillus subtilis MBI600, are presented as an example of the potential for PGPR in management strategies for sheath blight.