Abstract
Two fungal antagonists (Gliocladium virens Miller, Giddens and Foster; and Trichoderma longi-brachiatum Rifai aggr.) and two organic soil amendments (gliricidia leaf and neem cake) were used to control rice sheath blight disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn., under greenhouse as well as field conditions. Integration of these two systems significantly enhanced the efficacy over their individual effects. In addition to the disease suppression, the growth of rice plants as well as grain yield were increased to varying degrees in different treatments. The antagonists applied to the soil as wheat bran dust preparation survived well in the soil and reduced the pathogen population. When the antagonists were supplemented with organic substrates, an increase in the colony-forming units of the antagonists and a marked reduction in the pathogen survival were noticed. The significance of integration of antagonists and amendments and the possible mechanisms involved are discussed.
