Growth Promotion of Paddy Influenced by Biological Seed Treatment Using Fungal Antagonist, trichoderma

,i>Trichoderma species have long been recognized as agents for the control of plant disease and for their ability to increase plant growth and development. Morphologically characterized thirty rhizospheric isolates of Trichoderma (T. harzianum and T. virens) from different locations of Uttarakhand were evaluated under glass house condition for their plant growth promoting potential on paddy crop. Maximum ischolar_main and shoot growth promotion was achieved with isolate PB 15 (80.3%) and PB 8 (38.5%), respectively in paddy. Maximum length of flag leaf was recorded with isolates PB 23 (43.5 cm) and PB 16 (41.6 cm) while maximum width exhibited by isolates PB 23 (2.1 cm) and PB 8 (1.9cm). Maximum fresh and dry weight was recorded with isolates PB 18 (10.2g) and PB 23 (2.0393g), respectively.