Pa. Shah et al., Drying and storage procedures for formulated and unformulated mycelia of the aphid-pathogenic fungus Erynia neoaphidis, MYCOL RES, 104, 2000, pp. 440-446
Mycelial preparations of Erynia neoaphidis were tested under different dryi
ng and storage conditions. For unformulated mycelial discs and formulated a
lginate granules, sporulation was best maintained if drying at 20-22 degree
s C was performed at 60 or 90% r.h. rather than an ambient humidity of 30%.
Storage experiments were performed on preparations dried at 90% r.h. for 7
2 h. Estimates for a 50% decline in sporulation with storage time (ST50) we
re computed if there were statistically significant fits using exponential
or non-parametric linear regression. For mycelial discs, values of ST50 wer
e between 36-39 d when maintained at 10 degrees with silica gel or 20% r.h.
, and 14-26 d when kept at 10 degrees and 35% ck or with silica gel and 15
or 20 degrees. For alginate granules, ST50 values of 6-9 d were obtained at
10 degrees and 20-55% r.h. A 5- to 9-fold increase in sporulation was prod
uced with granules containing 2% w/v sucrose and 5% w/v starch compared to
granules without additives. Elevated humidities are recommended for drying
E. neoaphidis mycelia and viability of dried preparations is best maintaine
d if they are stored at 10 degrees compared with 15 or 20 degrees.