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False smut disease of rice is posing an increasing concern for research and production, not only
because of the hiking epidemic occurrence in rice production, but also because of the intriguing
specific pathogenesis of the disease. The present study describes the efficacy of different isolates of
Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma reesei
against Ustilaginoidea virens by dual culture method under in-vitro conditions. A set of four isolates
of Trichoderma spp. were isolated from rice rhizosphere soil and were subjected individually to dual
culture along with U. virens. Results indicated that all the isolates of Trichoderma species showed
antagonistic activity. But among them, isolate of Trichoderma viride showed maximum antagonistic
potential against U. virens after 9 days and 12 days of incubation period. Chemical fungicides
namely, zineb and thiophanate methyl were also tested against the pathogen. After 12days of
incubation period maximum zone of inhibition was exhibited by both the chemical fungicides.
Keywords: Ustilaginoidea virens, Rice False Smut, Thiophanatemethyl and Zineb