2.5. Greenhouse experiment:
A pot culture study was conducted to test the antagonistic
potential of Trichoderma spp. against F. oxysporum f. sp.
lycopersici. Potting mixture (red soil: sand: decomposed FYM at
1:1:1 w/w/w) was prepared and autoclaved 1 hr for two
consecutive days and filled in earthern pots of 5 kg capacity.
Tomato (var.PKM1) seeds were sown in autoclaved pot mixture in
earthern pots. After 25 days, the seedlings were pulled out from
the pots and dipped in their respective formulation for 2 h ensuring
that the roots alone were immersed in the inoculum and then
transplanted in pots at the rate of four seedlings per pot (5 kg
capacity). ANR-1, KGI -3, RTM-5, KPI-9 and EPI-4 isolates were
effective against F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici under in vitro
were selected. Soil drenching with the formulation was done 15
days and 30 days after transplantation. The wilt pathogen F.
oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici mass multiplied on sand maize
medium was incorporated in to the pots at 5 per cent (w/w). The
observation on the per cent disease incidence was recorded at the
time of harvest. Each treatment was replicated thrice in
Completely Randomized Block Design (CRD).