International Journal of Advance Agricultural Research
ISSN: 2053-1265
Vol. 6(6), pp. 78-84, July 2018
doi.org/10.33500/ijaar.2018.06.008

Mass production studies in solid substrates with the entomopathogenic fungus, Purpureocillium lilacinum

Paula Barra^1,2, German Barros^1,2, Miriam Etcheverry^1,2 and Andrea Nesci^1,2*

¹Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Ambiental, Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físico Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
²Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina.

*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: pbarra@exa.unrc.edu.ar.

Received 28 May, 2018; Received in revised form 05 July, 2018; Accepted 10 July, 2018.

Abstract

Keywords:
Mass production, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Substrates, Biocontrol, Storage maize.

The objective of this study was to evaluate several substrates to determine the optimal condition of entomopathogenic mass production with the purpose of developing a mycoinsecticide to be used for an integrated pest management. Conidial quality and yield for two isolates of Purpureocillium lilacinum were determined. For quality parameters assessment, germination and purity percentage and viability of conidia were determined. For the production parameters, the conidial yield was calculated. The main results obtained show the type of substrate that had the greatest effect on the viability, germination and yield of conidia of P. lilacinum. The substrate that presented the highest production of conidia per gram was rice, showing 2.1×10⁹ for isolate JQ926212 and 1.6×10⁹ for JQ926223. In the particulate substrates, the percentage purity was about 99%, while in powder substrate, the percentage purity was low with values ranging from 23 to 75%. The highest percentage of moisture content was about 40% for rice and wheat, while for maize meal and vermiculite the percentage was close to 20%. In conclusion, P. lilacinum can be mass multiplied in rice grains and vermiculite.