Granular formulations of the aphid-pathogenic fungus Erynia neoaphidis were
produced by entrapping mycelia In alginate polysaccharide polymers. Four S
wiss isolates were compared for the numbers of conidia discharged from the
surface of alginate granules in standardized laboratory assays and two were
considered to be suitable for further development. Conidiation was achieve
d from granules produced using nozzle diameters of 2.0. 1.0 and 0.5 mm from
glass burettes or a novel vibrating tip apparatus. The mean diameters of d
ried granules varied from 0.5 to 1.8 mm. The addition of sucrose, potato st
arch or chitin in alginate solutions significantly improved the numbers of
discharged conidia. With freshly produced granules, there was a 14.2-fold i
ncrease in sporulation from 6.3 to 89.7 conidia mm(-2) using 2% (w/v) sucro
se. Increases of 1.6- to 2.3-fold, from 11.0 to 17.7 and 25.2 conidia mm(-2
), were observed wing 5% (w/v) starch or chitin respectively. The overnight
drying of granules in a laminar flow hood and storage for 4 days at 4 degr
ees C made differences in sporulation more obvious. There was a 15.5-fold d
ifference in conidial numbers of 12.4 and 0.8 conidia mm(-2) from granules
with and without sucrose respectively. For starch and chitin, there were 76
.0- and 46.5-fold increases from 0.4 to 30.4 and 18.6 conidia mm(-2) respec
tively. Fresh or dried alginate granules containing 2% sucrose and 5% starc
h gave 8.6-26.6% infection in laboratory bioassays with nymphs of pea aphid
, Acyrthosiphon pisum, which were not significantly different when compared
with infections of 6.7-22.9% using agar cultures or unsupplemented granule
s. Further studies on desiccation and storage regimes are required in order
to improve the short-term shelf-life off. neoaphidis alginate granules.