Effectiveness of Rhizobacteria to Induce Resistance Against Rice Blast Disease and Promote the Growth of Local Rice of Bali

Abstract: One of the most popular local rice cultivars of Bali is Padi Merah Medang Putih (PMMP), however this cultivar is susceptible to rice blast disease. Currently, no appropriate control method is available. This study was conducted to develop rhizobacteria formula that can induce resistance against rice blast disease as well as promote the growth of rice cultivar PMMP. Four isolates of rhizobacteria have been identified and proven to induce resistance against rice blast disease on rice cultivar PMMP namely Bacillus methylotrophicus KDDA, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens O38, Pseudomonas aeruginosa OR3, and Achromocabter xylosoxidans Al7Kla were prepared in liquid formula and tested for their effectiveness to induce resistance against rice blast disease and promote the growth of PMMP under growth chamber and green house condition. Results showed that all four formula significantly (P<0.05) reduced the rice blast incidence and intensity. This treatment was also significantly (P<0.05) increased the plant height and leaf chlorophyll content of PMMP grown in the growth chamber. Under green house condition, treatment with rhizobacteria formula effectively induced resistance against rice blast disease, and increased the leaf chlorophyll content and number of tillers. Formula containing suspension of B. methylotrophicus KDDA showed the highest ability to induce resistance against rice blast disease on rice cultivar PMMP suggested that this formula can be considered as a promising disease inducing agent against rice blast disease as well as plant growth promoting agent. Keywords : rhizobacteria formula, induced resistance, rice blast disease