In another study, the preparations of bacterial microcapsules and a non-encapsulated bacterial suspension were subjected to heat treatment at 80 C for 48 h. This was carried out by transferring 1 ml of either the bacterial microcapsules or the non-encapsulated bacterial suspension into the Eppendorf tubes. These Eppendorf tubes were then incubated in a water bath (at 80 C). Viability of the bacteria was assessed by sampling the bacterial suspension from these Eppendorf tubes after subjecting them to hot water in the water bath for 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, using the drop plate technique. Similarly treated samples, subjected to the hot water were also used to test their efficacy in inhibiting the mycelial growth of R. solani, using the dual culture technique on PDA.