Alginate encapsulation of Trichoderma harzianum against brown spot disease on rice (Oryzae sativa) in vivo assays

Abstract

Bipolaris oryzae causes brown spot disease which is one of the most devastating diseases in rice. Nowadays, biological methods are effective controls which need to be developed in order to use less chemical control. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to characterize the B. oryzae as a biocontrol agent and to measure the performance of encapsulated T. harzianum in controlling brown spot disease. Bipolaris oryzae was characterized based on morphological characteristics and alginate encapsulation was produced from conidial suspension by adding sodium alginate and calcium chloride which results in small beads. Alginate formulation was applied to the rice seedling to find the result on this formulation. As a result, the application of encapsulation T. harzianum to control brown spot disease showed the inhibition of the disease. As a conclusion, this can be an alternative method to control brown spot disease which will render easier application to rice plantation in the future.