Crop optimization and pre-steps standardization to get a Bipolaris euphorbiae-based bioherbicide

Abstract

Making bioproducts available to the market requires finding appropriate processes for mass production and formulation of biological agents. This study aimed at evaluating the Bipolaris euphorbiae production in a solid medium (fermentation in solid substrate) and in a biphasic system (growth in a liquid medium followed by growth in a solid medium), as well as determining the processes for collecting and drying conidia, under laboratory conditions. The influence of the incubation period and inoculum quantity were also investigated. The conidia were dried by using an oven (30ºC, 35ºC, 40ºC, 45ºC, 50ºC, 55ºC and 60ºC), and laminar flow, continuous air flow and aseptic chamber at room temperature. Dry conidia were obtained by sieving and grinding in a ball mill, hammer mill or grain grinder. The conidia viability and sporulation efficiency were evaluated in the solid medium and in the biphasic system. For growth period, the best sporulation on solid medium was obtained after 10 days of incubation, reaching 8.3 x 10⁷ conidia g^-1 of substrate. The biphasic system did not increase the B. euphorbiae sporulation (4.5 x 10⁷ conidia g^-1 of substrate), after 14 days, and the amount of liquid inoculum used in this system was not an important factor for increasing its production. The continuous air flow and laminar flow preserved the conidial viability (94.6% and 99.1%, respectively), while promoting a great moisture loss (62.6% and 54.0%, respectively). All the grinding processes reduced the conidia germination (86.2%, 10.5% and 12%, respectively), while sieving allowed the collecting of powdered conidia with high viability (94.8%).