Drying of Epicoccum nigrum conidia for obtaining a shelf-stable biological product against brown rot disease.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of freeze-drying, spray-drying and fluidized bed-drying on survival of Epicoccum nigrum conidia were compared.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper deals with methods for the potential formulation of a biocontrol agent which is being tested for eventual commercialization.
Larena
I
I
Department of Plant Protection, INIA, Carretera de La Coruña Km 7, Madrid, Spain.
De Cal
A
A
Liñán
M
M
Melgarejo
P
P
D001203:Ascomycota; D001685:Biological Factors; D003890:Desiccation / Q000379:methods*; D005612:Freeze Drying / Q000379:methods; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature
D001685:Biological Factors