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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Use of solid state fermentation to produce Beauveria bassiana for the biological control of european corn borer

subject

description

The production process of a new bioinsecticide against european corn borer is described. The entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, is cultivated by Solid State Fermentation (SSF). The culture support chosen, clay microgranules, humidified with optimal nutritive solution, is incubated in optimal conditions during 48 hours, then dried for 5 days. The bioinsecticide can be directly used after harvesting, without formulation. This process is original for several reasons : - The granulometry (500 microm) and the bulk density (0.6) of the microgranules are compatible with the mechanical standard application of pesticides on corn. - The bioinsecticide could be produced in a pilot reactor of 1600 1 capacity, on 0.5m-thick-layer.- The biomass bound to microgranules conserves its efficiency after storage for 12 months at 4 degrees C, unlike pure cells. - Like the chemical insecticides usually used, this bioproduct has a field efficiency of 80%. Moreover, the efficiency of the product persists during 3 weeks.