Solid state culture conditions for improved conidial production of the mycoparasitic fungus Escovopsis weberi

ABSTRACT

We evaluated culture conditions (temperature, substrate moisture content, agitation and light conditions) for optimising conidia production of Escovopsis weberi Ew1 using solid state culture. In addition, several substrates such as agricultural waste and food industry by-products were evaluated with the aim of reducing spore production costs in a strategic way towards circular bioeconomy. Finally, we selected substrate combinations in order to achieve a suitable system for the production of conidia.

KEYWORDS:

• Microbial control
• solid state culture
• Escovopsis weberi
• leafcutting ants
• circular bioeconomy
• agricultural waste

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the companies Molino Juan Semino S. A, Glucovil Argentina S. A. and Ronalb S. R. L., for kindly providing us with the substrates. We thank Phd. Viviana Barrera for reviewing the manuscript, and Phd. Monica Balzarini for statistical support. This research was supported by the Institute of Microbiology and Agricultural Zoology from National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).