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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #128514

Title: RECENT ADVANCES IN PRODUCTION AND FORMULATION OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI

Author
item Wraight, Stephen
item Jackson, Mark

Submitted to: Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/25/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An unprecedented number of new mycoinsecticide products were registered during the past decade. However, development of stable markets and generation of sufficient economic returns to ensure the long-term commercial success of these products continues to be severely constrained by competition from chemical insecticides. Chemicals generally provide greater, more rapid and more consistent pest control at lower cost than mycoinsecticides. It is consequently widely recognized that factors such as application timing and propagule efficiency can be of greater importance than many traditionally emphasized factors (e.g., environmental conditions) in determining mycoinsecticide efficacy. These difficult constraints are stimulating extensive searches for novel production and formulation methods to increase mass-production efficiency and enhance product stability and efficacy. The greater stability of aerial conidia produced on solid substrates has made this the preferred production method for most mycoinsecticides; however, substantial progress has been made toward improving the desiccation tolerance and storage stability of hyphal bodies and mycelia produced in liquid media and increasing production of inherently more stable submerged conidia. In addition, the development of on-site liquid culture production methods for fungal bioinsecticides shows promise in reducing product costs and increasing product efficacy.