Assessment of microencapsulated formulations for improved residual activity of Bacillus thuringiensis

Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner is a highly efficacious bioinsecticide used to control lepidopteran pests in the field. Unfortunately, it has limited residual activity on plants because sunlight inactivates spores and crystal s and they can be washed off by rain. To minimize loss of activity, formula tions must contain UV protectants, stickers, or both. We tested approximate to 80 formulations and determined optimal combinations of ingredients and spray drying conditions for improving B. thuringiensis residual activity af ter simulated rain and simulated sunlight. B. thuringiensis stability, afte r simulated sunlight (xenon light/8 h) and rain (5 cm/50 min), was improved using formulations based on lignin, corn flours, or both, with up to 20% o f the active ingredient, when compared with technical powder or Dipel 2x in laboratory assays. Two formulations, made with corn flours or lignin + pre gelatinized corn flour (PCF), killed 51.6 and 75.3% of Ostrinia nubilalis ( Hubner) neonates after rain, respectively, versus 27% for technical powder. When the insecticidal activity was tested after simulated sunlight, corn f lour-based formulations killed 78.5% of test larvae, and the lignin + PCF f ormulation killed 70.4%, in contrast to technical powder which caused an av erage of 29% mortality. Formulations made with Dipel 2x rather than technic al powder, caused 62.5% mortality (corn flour-based formulations), and 72.3 % mortality (lignin + PCF), versus 53.4% for Dipel 2x after rain. When test ed after simulated sunlight, formulations killed 95% of the larvae (average of both formulations) versus 82% for Dipel 2x. In a field test, formulatio ns were applied to cabbage and insecticidal activity was determined against Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) neonates exposed to treated leaves. Insecticidal activity of the corn flour-based formulations was comparable to DiDel 2x fo r 4 d after treatment, but was significantly better than Dipel 2x 7 d after application. A lignin and PCF-based formulation showed significantly highe r residual activity than Dipel 2x, 4 and 7 d after application.