Development of production and drying methods of unexplored entomopathogenic fungi in pest control: Hirsutella, Neozygites and Batkoa

• Grant number: 21/10302-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2022
• End date: August 25, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Italo Delalibera Júnior
• Grantee: Daniela Milanez Silva
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/07858-0 - Formulation and drying methods for the fungal pathogen Batkoa sp., BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The entomopathogenic fungi Neozygites and Batkoa, from the phylum Entomophthoromycota, are known to cause epizootics in populations of two spotted spider-mite (Tetranychus urticae) and sugarcane leafhopper (Mahanarva fimbriolata), respectively, and for being more demanding in terms of cultivation in a liquid medium compared with ascomycetes fungi. Alternatively, little is known about the submerged fermentation of the ascomycete fungus Hirsutella thompsonii, which is virulent to several species of mites. There are no products based on the fungi Neozygites and Batkoa in the Brazilian marked and only one registered product based on H. thompsonii. Enabling and expanding the use of these fungi in biological control programs depends on obtaining high production of infective propagules, or that may generate infective structures in the environment, on effective formulations that enhance the effect of propagules in the field and ensure protection against environmental stresses and extensive shelf life. In this project, we will address the aforementioned bottlenecks. We propose to study strategies for the production and formulation of propagules obtained by submerged fermentation of Neozygites, Batkoa and H. thompsonii with bioactivity against T. urticae, M. fimbriolata and other potential species. Our goal is to optimize culture media by selecting inexpensive sources of carbon and nitrogen, and determining the best cultivation parameters; develop specific formulations for each fungus using co-formulants with different purposes and drying techniques such as spray-dryer, and encapsulation of propagules. We will determine the shelf life of the developed formulations and assess their bio-efficacy on selected pests. This project aims to provide scientific bases to enable innovative products in the biological pest control market. (AU)