Abstract
The treatment of rice seeds with avirulent strains of Pseudomonas glumae significantly suppressed the incidence of bacterial seedling rot of rice caused by virulent strains. The suppression varied depending on the combinations of the avirulent and virulent strains used. The remarkable suppression resulted by the use of high concentration (ca. 1010cfu/ml) of avirulent strains for pre-treatment. The killed cells of avirulent strain of P. glumae or other bacteria belonging to the genus Agrobacterium, Erwinia, Bacillus and Clavibacter tested did not suppress disease incidence. Of five avirulent strains of P. glumae used, avirulent strain N7503 was the highest in the suppression to the disease incited by virulent strains. Avirulent strain N7503 may be useful agent for biocontrol of bacterial seedling rot of rice.
