An optimized standard liquid carrier formulation for extended shelf-life of Beauveria bassiana strain AgG20.01ES

Although chemical pesticides are widely used in agricultural pests and diseases control, they can cause environmental and health problems. For this reason, scientists are turning to biological control methods. Biological control is the use of microorganisms to reduce pest populations, and entomopathogenic fungi play an important role in this area. These fungi invade insects directly through chitin. Beauveria bassiana is the most researched entomopathogenic fungus and accounts for the majoritv of commercial mvcoinsecticides. This fungus has a wide host range and naturally found in soil. It has been proven effective against a variety of insect species. Formulation technology is important in microbial control to increase the efficacy and shelf life of products. Formulations should ensure that fungal propagules are protected against environmental stresses. Research aims to increase the efficacy of Beauveria with different formulation strategies. In this study, for the first time in our country, water-soluble concentrated (SL) formulations were developed by combining solid substrate with different compound components of an entomopathogenic fungus. The highest viability of the developed formulations at room temperature was determined to be 1×107 conidia/mL, 4°C and 4×109 conidia/mL at the end of one year. In the paralel kept at 42°C for accelerated shelf life, it was concluded that the highest viability value was 6×107 conidia/mL on the ninth day. In this study, when the viability values of the tested B. bassiana isolate were evaluated, it was concluded that solid substrate could be preferred in submerged liquid culture for SL formulations and that it would be a guide for further studies.