Narendrappa, TRAKESHA2017-09-182017-09-182016-07-26Th-11416http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810031328Finger millet is an important millet crop of southern Karnataka, affected by blast disease that causes yield loss up to 50 to 60 per cent. A total of 35 bacterial and six fungal antagonistic organisms isolated from finger millet phyllosphere were identified as species of Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Trichoderma based on the cultural, morphological and biochemical tests. In vitro evaluation of phyllosphere microflora against P. grisea revealed that Bacillus isolates B13, B3, RBs1, B7 and Pseudomonas isolates P2, P17, P22, RPf1 and T. harzianum (Th3) recorded maximum inhibition of 66.79, 66.41, 66.29, 59.35, 62.24, 52.16, 50.16, 50.09 and 56.60 per cent respectively. Bacillus isolate B13 found potential against P. grisea which was further identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens based on 16S rRNA sequence. and these isolates were tested for their efficacy under pot culture. Foliar spray of P. fluorescens (RPf1) recorded minimum PDI of leaf (30.46), neck (1.59) and finger (3.12) blast besides maximum plant growth promotion in-terms of shoot (106.20 cm) and root length (42.83 cm) which was on par with B. amyloliquefaciens and T. harzianum. Further, field evaluation of these bioagents revealed that Seed treatment + Seedling dip + Foliar spray with P. fluorescens RPf1 recorded minimum PDI of leaf (19.49), neck (1.42) and finger blast (1.26) with maximum growth promotion i.e. shoot length (99.10 cm), fresh shoot weight (45.33 g), grain yield (1900 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5375 kg ha-1) followed by B. amyloliquefaceins confirming usage of bioagents in the management of finger millet blast. .ennullThesis