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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 #150922

Title: PRODUCTION AND FORMULATION OF MICROBIAL PRODUCTS ACTIVE AGAINST PLANT PESTS

Author
item Schisler, David
item Behle, Robert
item Slininger, Patricia - Pat
item Jackson, Mark

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2003
Publication Date: 11/14/2003
Citation: Schisler, D.A., Behle, R.W., Slininger, P.J., Jackson, M.A. 2003. Production and formulation of microbial products active against plant pests. In: Proceedings of the II Moscow International Congress of Biotechnology: State of the Art and Prospects of Development. P&I JSC "Maxima," November 10-14, 2003. Moscow, Russia. p. 263.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Maximizing the potential for successfully developing and deploying a biological control product begins with a carefully crafted microbial screening procedure, proceeds by employing biomass production protocols that optimize product quantity and quality, and ends with devising a product formulation that preserves shelf-life, aids product delivery and enhances bioactivity. Selection procedures that require prospective microbial biocontrol agents to possess both efficacy and amenability to production in liquid culture enhance the likelihood of selecting agents with improved commercial development potential. Scale-up of biomass production procedures must optimize product yield without compromise of product efficacy and amenability to stabilization and formulation. Formulation of microbial biomass for use against plant pests is an enormous topic in general terms but limited in published specifics regarding formulations used in commercially available products. Formulation types include dry products such as wettable powders, dusts and granules, and liquid products including cell suspensions in water, oils, or emulsions. Cells can also be microencapsulated. Considerations critical to designing successful formulations of microbial biomass are many fold and include designing production processes that enhance biomass amenability to formulation; an awareness of the mode of action of the microbial agent; durability of the life-stage to be formulated; the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics present on the application target; and the equipment used for field application. Solutions to these formulation considerations will not necessarily be compatible. Data from several systems for biologically controlling plant pests, including the biological control of Fusarium head blight of wheat and Fusarium dry rot of potatoes, will be used to demonstrate several of these issues.