Preparation of Pathogenic Fungi: The respective isolates For seed treatment, the seeds were initially surface
of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, were multiplied on sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite and soaked in
sand maize medium [4]. Sand and ground maize seeds double volume of sterile distilled water containing
were mixed in the ratio of 20:1, moistened to 50% moisture talc-based formulation (S. griseus - 10 g/kg of seeds).
content. Then it was filled in 500ml conical flask After 12 h, the bacterial suspension was drained off and
and autoclaved for two hours. Cell suspensions of the seeds were dried under shade for 30 min and sown [9].
F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was prepared by culturing Another set of seed were treated with chitin amended
the fungus in Czapek broth medium on a rotary shaker at talc-based formulations following the same procedure
25°C for 5 days [5].