TY - JOUR AU - Nithya, P. R. AU - Reji Rani, O. P. PY - 2017/09/12 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Evaluation of carrier materials for formulating entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium Lecanii (Zimmermann) Zare and Gams JF - Journal of Biological Control JA - JBC VL - 31 IS - 1 SE - Research Articles DO - 10.18311/jbc/2017/15556 UR - https://informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jbc/article/view/15556 SP - 50-55 AB - <p>Microbial pest control strategy is always challenged for its incompetent formulation technologies which hinder the action of potential microorganisms. Conidial viability is a key factor in formulating a microbial agent. Carrier material plays a pivotal role in maintaining the viability and virulence of an entomopathogenic fungus (EPF).  Evaluation studies using sunflower oil, groundnutoil and talc as the basic carrier materials and their enrichment with chitin and chitosan, was conducted at Collegeof Agricuture, Vellayani, Kerala. The ideal proportion of carrier material:technical ingredient and viability were assessed based on number of colony forming units (cfu) over a period of storage of 3 months. Chitin enriched ground nut oil (GNO + Chitin) and chitin enriched sunflower (SFO + chitin) were observed as the best carriers for formulating the fungus.  Ideal proportion of carrier: technical ingredient in oil formulations was found to be 65:35 per cent.  The number of cfu observed with chitin enriched GNO and SFO by the end of three months of storage was 2.27 x 10<sup>6 </sup>ml<sup>-1</sup> and 2.20 x 10<sup>6 </sup>ml<sup>-1 </sup>under room temperature respectively. Enrichment of oil formulations (GNO and SFO) with chitin could thus sustain viability as well as spore count of <em>L. lecanii </em>till the end of experimental period (three months). </p> ER -