Development of bioinsecticide formulations based on the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae

• Grant number: 02/08006-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: September 01, 2003
• End date: February 28, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Hiromiti Sano
• Grantee: Alexandre Hiromiti Sano
• Company: Bio Soja Indústrias Químicas e Biológicas Ltda

Abstract

The use of Metarhizium anisopliaefor the control of Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stal) in the cultivation of sugarcane in the State of São Paulo has greatly increased in recent years. The objective of this project is the refinement of existing techniques and the development of new production and formulation processes of Metarhizium anisopliae, produced in liquid and solid culture media, so as to raise levels of quality control and reduce production costs. Consequently, the following stages have been outlined: 1) selection of complex and low economic cost media, as well as sources of nitrogen, carbon and vitamins; 2) evaluation of toxicity of the inerts for liquid and solid formulations; 3) development of different types of formulations; and 4) evaluation in the field of the agronomic efficiency of the selected formulations. In phase 1 of the project, alternative products of low economic cost were selected (molasses, glycerin, yeast extract and beer yeast) for the composition of liquid culture media, with a view to large scale production of different structures of the biological cycle of Metarhizium anisopliae. The resultant information will be used in phase 2 for the development of new bioinsecticide formulations based on blastospores and dry mycelium and to make viable the use of mycelium mass as inoculant in biphasic systems of production of airborne conidia. (AU)