Shelf life study of formulations of fungal and bacterial antagonists as bioinoculants

The talc based formulations of two fungal (Trichoderma harzianum and T. hamatum) and seven bacterial antagonists (Strains of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens) were evaluated for their shelf life at two temperatures (ambient and 10°C). Microbial count was highest initially but a gradual decline was recorded with the increase in the storage time. Among fungal and bacterial antagonists, highest microbial count was recorded in T. harzianum (2.2 x 10⁸) and Bacillus subtilis I₂ (2.0 x 10⁸) at zero day which was reduced to 8.3 x 10⁶ cfu/g and 5.6 x 10⁶ cfu/g, respectively, after 80 days of storage at ambient temperature. At 10°C, initial highest count was found in T. harzianum (2.0 x 10⁸) and P. fluorescens I₁ (1.2 x 10⁸) which was declined to 3.0 x 10⁶ and 3.3 x 10⁶, respectively, after 80 days of storage.