Assessment of Antifungal Activity of PGPR (Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterial) Isolates Against Rhizoctonia solani in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Soil adhering to root is defined as the rhizosphere. Soil bacterial isolates from rhizosphere which have been shown to improve plant health or increase yield, are usually referred to as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Seven plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial strains (PGPRS) were isolated from the rhizoplane and rhizosphere of wheat from four different sites of Varanasi. These strains were analyzed for inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani on Waksman media. Strain WR-1, WR-3 and WR-5 were selected to test plant antagonistic activity on wheat infected with Rhizoctonia solani. Out of these strains WR-7 showed maximum inhibition of R. solani growth. Rhizobacterial isolates were tested in this study as biological control agent, positively affected the germination of wheat as well as increased biomass and root shoot length by inhibiting R. solani growth when tested in pot experiment.