Conidial production of Beauveria bassiana on agricultural products and effect of storage temperature on its formulations

Abstract

Rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, mini potato tubers, rice bran and rice straw were evaluated for mass production of three Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin strains. Results show rice as the most suitable substrate for examined fungi as it yielded highest conidial count (31.8×105 conidia/g) and colony forming unit (30.5 × 105 cfu/g) whereas rice straw recorded minimum conidial count (12.2×105 cfu/g) and colony forming unit (9.5×105 conidia/g). This study also shows the preparation of formulations of B. bassiana on best substrate and its viability at different storage temperature. Results show Talc based formulation at refrigeration temperature as the best and the cells were viable upto three months of storage. Key words: Beauveria bassiana, formulations, temperature.