2.6. In vivo effect of biocontrol agents Two biocontrol organisms B. cenocepacia VBC7 and P. poae VBK1 of rhizospheric origin were cultured in their respective broth med-ium till their early stationary phase (5 10 7 and 8 107 CFU/ml
respectively). A 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose solution was added aseptically to the culture as sticker and sprayed on the foliar branches of approximately 10 years old jackfruit trees which were considered as treated. Rate of rot formation in the fruit during their setting time (early February) was compared between biocontrol treated and untreated controls.
Similarly effect of these two biocontrol organisms along with three lactic acid bacteria (LABW1, LABW3, and LABW4) was tested in postharvest young fruits in challenge studies. 20–30 days old
harvested young fruits were treated with 10 4
spores/ml of VBAM1
only or they were first treated with 107
–108
CFU/ml of all the five
biocontrol organisms, followed by application of pathogen spores
of 10 4
spores/ml of VBAM1 after 10 h incubation. All the treated
and untreated fruits were incubated at 28 C for several days for
appearance of rot symptoms.