Journal of Applied Microbiology (2003) 94, 508-514

I. Larena, A. De Cal, M. Liñán and P. Melgarejo (2003)
Drying of Epicoccum nigrum conidia for obtaining a shelf-stable biological product against brown rot disease
Journal of Applied Microbiology 94 (3), 508-514
Abstract: Aims: The effects of freeze-drying, spray-drying and fluidized bed-drying on survival of Epicoccum nigrum conidia were compared.
Methods and Results: Viability of E. nigrum conidia (estimated by measuring its germination) was 100% after fluidized bed-drying and freeze-drying, but it was determined that skimmed milk must be added in the case of freeze-drying conidia. Addition of other protectants (Tween-20, peptone, sucrose, glucose, starch and peptone + starch) to skimmed milk before freeze-drying did not improve the conidial viability which was obtained with skimmed milk alone. Glycerol had a negative effect on the lyophilization of E. nigrum conidia. Epicoccum nigrum conidia freeze-dried with skimmed milk, or fluidized bed-dried alone maintained an initial viability for 30 and 90 days, respectively, for storage at room temperature. Epicoccum nigrum conidial viability after spray-drying was lower than 10%.
Conclusions: The best method to dry E. nigrum conidia was fluidized bed-drying. Conidia without protectants dried by this method had 100% viability and survived for 90 days at room temperature.
Significance and Impact of Study: This paper deals with methods for the potential formulation of a biocontrol agent which is being tested for eventual commercialization.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Inmaculada Larena, Paloma Melgarejo

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
formulation/storage of bioagents
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Epicoccum nigrum (antagonist)			Spain (continental)