title: Liquid Culture Production of Fungal Microsclerotia.
abstract: Fungal microsclerotia ("small" sclerotia) are compact hyphal aggregates, typically 50-600 μm in diameter, that are formed under unfavorable nutritional and/or environmental conditions. These structures are often melanized and desiccated to some degree containing endogenous nutritional reserves for use when favorable conditions return. Many fungi, mostly plant pathogens, produce microsclerotia as a survival structure. Liquid culture methods have been developed for producing microsclerotia of the Ascomycota Metarhizium spp, Colletotrichum truncatum, Mycoleptodiscus terrestris, and Trichoderma spp. While these fungi have varying culture conditions that optimize microsclerotia production, all share common nutritional and environmental requirements for microsclerotia formation. Described are the general liquid culture techniques, media components, and harvesting and drying methods necessary to produce stable microsclerotial granules of these fungi.
authors: United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University St, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA. mark.jackson@ars.usda.gov.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Jackson
authors: United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University St, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA.
authors: Angela R
authors: AR
authors: Payne
mesh_terms: D061046:Biological Control Agents; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005285:Fermentation; D005658:Fungi / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013172:Spores, Fungal
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents; D003470:Culture Media
keywords: Biopesticide; Desiccation tolerance; Fungal differentiation; Liquid fermentation; Microbial biocontrol; Microsclerotia