Drying of Epicoccum nigrum conidia for obtaining a shelf-stable biological product against brown rot disease

Aims The effects of freeze-drying, spray-drying and fluidized bed-drying on survival of Epicoccum nigrum conidia were compared. Methods and 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. Significance and Impact of Study This paper deals with methods for the potential formulation of a biocontrol agent which is being tested for eventual commercialization.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Larena Nistal, María Inmaculada, De Cal Cortina, Antonieta, Liñán, M., Melgarejo, P.
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Wiley 2003
Subjects:	Biocontrol, Biological agent, Formulation,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/2323 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/290555
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