Formulation and delivery systems of biocontrol agents with emphasis on fungi

Abstract

The commercial use of biological control fungi (mainly Trichoderma and Gliocladium) is discussed in this review. Fermentation media for growth of fungi or bacteria used for biological control should contain available, inexpensive agricultural products which result in production of adequate biomass containing effective propagules (e.g. chlamydospores). Dry, powdered or moist biomass can be formulated into a variety of dusts, powders, pellets, granules or gels supplemented with inert carriers (e.g. Pyrax) or food bases (e.g. bran). Systems are also described in which biological control agents are grown on solid fermentation media consisting of various grains or inert carriers amended with food bases. Delivery systems of preparations for seed treatments and soil amendments for the control of various soilborne plant pathogens are discussed. This paper was presented at a symposium held at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Beltsville, MD, USA, on 8-11 May, 1989.