In vivo application of these two rhizospheric bacteria by spraying
on the foliar parts showed encouraging observations. Spraying
of fully grown cultures of VBC7 and VBK1 twice on jackfruit foliage,
one before appearance on inflorescence and the other immediate
after, could reduce the incidence of rot formation in fruits by four
times and six times by the strains respectively in comparison to
their uninoculated controls (Table 2). In planta challenge studies
by applying pathogenic spores before spraying of VBC7 or VBK1
was not possible due to ethical reason but if had done would definitely
have give better impression about the direct control of the
pathogen. Not only the strains VBC7 and VBK1 grew well on the
fruit surfaces but also they worked efficiently to kill invading
pathogens. Functioning of rhizobacteria in phyllosphere or vice
versa has also been reported by Bashan and Holguin (1998).
Although in planta challenge study was not conducted but