2.3. Evaluation of PGPR for antagonism
The antifungal activity of the rhizobacteria was assessed against FOL by dual culture technique on PDA in triplicate with or without supplementation of FeCl3 (100 μg/mL). PDA plates inoculated with the pathogen alone were maintained as control. The plates were incubated at 28 ± 2 °C for 7 days and the inhibition zone was measured from the edge of mycelium to the bacterial streak, when the control plates showed full growth. The rhizobacterial strains showing the greatest inhibition were used for further studies.