The cultures were grown under L: D (light: dark cycle– 16:18), white light (50–55 µmol photons m−2 s−1) and 29
± 1◦C in nitrogen free BG-11 medium (Stanier et al. 1971).Potato dextrose medium (broth and agar) was used for the
growth and maintenance of the fungal cultures used and the plates were inoculated with the fungal mycelia and incubated
at 30◦C in a BOD incubator (Commonwealth AgriculturalBureaux 1968).