Seedling Protection Assay in Microcosms

In seedling protection assays, surface-sterilized seeds (4% NaOCl–10 min) were treated with Bacillus subtilis (10⁵–10⁷ cells ml^–1) and its lipopeptides (200 μg ml^–1) separately then inoculated with Fusarium sp. spores (10³–10⁴ spores ml^–1). Seeds only inoculated with fungal spores were set up as control. From all treatments, 20–25 seeds were transferred into each magenta box, containing sterile cocopeat, perlite and sand in a 2:2:1 ratio, then magenta boxes were placed into a growth chamber. Each treatment was done in triplicate.