%D 2007 %0 ARTICLE %T Effervescent fast-disintegrating bacterial formulation for biological control of rice sheath blight . %J %V %P %A Wiwattanapatapee R %A Chumthong A %A Pengnoo A %A Kanjanamaneesathian M %M pub17428569 %X A lack of effective , easily applied and stable formulation has been a major obstacle to widespread use of biocontrol agents for control of rice sheath blight . In this study , effervescent fast-disintegrating granules containing endospores of Bacillus megaterium were developed for use either by broadcast or spray application . The formulation composed of lactose , polyvinyl pyrrolidone K-30 ( PVP , K-30 ) and effervescent base ( citric acid , tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate ) . The number of living bacteria in effervescent granules that performed mycelial growth inhibition was in the range of 10 ( 9 ) CFU/g after 12 months storage at room temperature . The number of viable bacteria after applying into the water and spraying on the rice seedling for 7 days in the greenhouse tests were also satisfactory high ( 10 ( 9 ) CFU/g of granules and 10 ( 6 ) CFU/g of plant , respectively ) . The scanning electron microscope ( SEM ) was used to observe bacterial antagonist on the surface of leaf sheath and leaf blade after spraying with formulation . Effervescent formulation applied either broadcasting or spraying reduced incidence of sheath blight disease in the greenhouse experiments .