Potential of Serratia marcescens strain B2 for biological control of rice sheath blight

Serratia marcescens strain B2 inhibited mycelial growth of the rice sheath blight pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IA. Rice plants were treated with bacterial suspension and then challenge inoculated with the pathogen. Application of S. marcescens effectively reduced the incidence of sheath blight. S. marcescens survived in soil under glasshouse conditions at ca. 10(8) colony forming units g(-1) of soil for 4 weeks after application. These results suggest that S. marcescens has potential as an effective and persistent biological control agent for rice sheath blight.