Production of Beauveria bassiana Air Conidia by Means of Optimization of Biphasic System Technology

Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, is one of the most destructive pests of vegetables, fruits and ornamental crops worldwide, causing extensive damage by direct feeding of the crop and transmitting economically important viruses. Despite the successes of biocontrol agents to control WFT, more efficient and cost-effective ways must be found to encourage grower adoption of integrated pest management. A sustainable fungal treatment was developed to preserve fungal inoculum in potting soil and reduce thrips populations. Combining cooked, oven-dried millet with BotaniGard® (a commercial form of Beauveria bassiana strain GHA) to potting soil increased spore production and persistence of the fungus in the soil. In treated pots with millet, spore concentrations were 3–4 times greater after 30 days compared with spore yields at 10 days. The number of WFT adults was significantly lower in the marigold pots treated with GHA mix + millet than untreated controls, 12% and 10% in treated pots and 70% and 68% in untreated pots in sterile and non-sterile soil, respectively. Incorporation of millet in the potting mix enhanced the effect of the fungal treatments by providing a nutritive substrate on which the fungus could become established. This method is relatively inexpensive and easy for growers to use in greenhouses because granular formulations of B. bassiana are not commercially available.

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A nonconventional two-stage fermentation system for the production of aerial conidia of entomopathogenic fungi utilizing surface tension

Lopes

Faria

Glare

2018

J Appl Microbiol

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Aim: To describe a new approach in which production of conidia of an entomopathogenic fungus takes place on the surface of an unstirred shallow liquid culture kept in nonabsorbent wells distributed in plastic sheets resembling a honeycomb. Methods and Results: First, liquid incubation time and medium composition for production of Beauveria bassiana aerial conidia were optimized. Wells inoculated with Sabouraud dextrose yeast extract produced 2Á2 9 10 8 conidia per cm 2 of liquid surface following 5 days of incubation. Finally, tests were carried out in a prototype comprised of stacked plastic sheets in a cylindrical container. Conidia production on liquid culture surface varied from 1Á2 to 1Á6 9 10 9 conidia per ml of fermented broth. Germination rates and insect activity towards Tenebrio molitor larvae were not negatively affected when compared to conidia produced on solid medium. Conclusions: The two-stage fermentation process here described, based on a simple nonabsorbent inert support, has potential for the application in the production of aerial conidia of B. bassiana and other fungi. Significance and Impact of the Study: Aerial conidia are the most extensive propagule type used in commercial mycopesticides, traditionally produced by solid-state fermentation (SSF). The industrial applications and other important benefits of the two-stage fermentation process here described may overcome some hurdles inherent to SSF aiming for the production of aerial conidia. Additionally, production consistency is increased by the use of chemically defined medium, and the better control of the environmental conditions could allow for more reproducible industrial batches.

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Production of Beauveria bassiana Air Conidia by Means of Optimization of Biphasic System Technology

Cited by 3 publications

References 8 publications

Technology for the production of microbial pesticides

Technology for the production of microbial pesticides

Biological control of Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis using a self-sustaining granular fungal treatment

A nonconventional two-stage fermentation system for the production of aerial conidia of entomopathogenic fungi utilizing surface tension

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