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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #69246

Title: OPTIMIZING NUTRITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR THE LIQUID CULTURE PRODUCTION OF EFFECTIVE FUNGAL BIOPESTICIDES

Author
item Jackson, Mark

Submitted to: Journal of Industrial Microbiology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Spores of fungal pathogens of weeds and insects are unique in their ability to actively infect and kill their pest host. While these attributes are advantageous in terms of their use as a contact biopesticide, they also require special consideration during spore production. Directed approaches to medium optimization must consider not only spore yield but also spore "fitness" based on qualities such as desiccation tolerance, stability as a dry preparation, and biocontrol efficacy. Nutritional and environmental conditions during culture growth and sporulation, which promote the accumulation of appropriate endogenous reserves, may be a critical factor in determining spore fitness. Our liquid culture production studies with the bioherbicidal fungus Colletotrichum truncatum and with the bioinsecticidal fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus have demonstrated the impact of nutrition on spore fitness for use as a biological control agent. A comparison of the results from these studies will be presented.