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Chinese Journal of Biological Control ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 617-626.DOI: 10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2025.02.029

• RESEARCH REPORTS • Previous Articles    

Preparation and Performance Evaluation of Metarhizium pingshaense Alginate Granules Based on Sodium Alginate

LIU Yaohui1,2, SHEN Zhilai1,2, LIANG Shuang1, LI Zijian2, SHU Jinping2, ZHANG Yabo2, ZHAI Fengyan1   

  1. 1. College of Plant Protection and Environmental Science, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, China;
    2. Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou 311400, China
  • Received:2024-10-29 Published:2025-06-20

Abstract: Metarhizium spp. are important biocontrol fungal resources for controlling underground pests. Due to their susceptibility to environmental conditions, they are not conducive to commodity storage and forest applications. In order to improve the survival activity of M. pingshaense, this study investigated the alginate granules form of M. pingshaense strain WP08. The alginate granules were prepared by titration granulation method, and the effects of spore powder concentration, particle diameter, filling carrier, and nutrient activator on the granulation characteristics and spore production of alginate granules were determined. The UV resistance and storage effect of alginate granules were also tested. The results showed that the alginate particles of the WP08 strain of M. pingshaense were spherical in shape and exhibited excellent mechanical compressive strength; the optimum conditions were 0.75% spore powder concentration, 8% 1250 mesh attapulgite as carrier, 0.5% rice flour as nutrient activator, and 6 mm particle diameter. After 30 minutes of ultraviolet UV irradiation, the spore production yield using a carrier of 1250-mesh attapulgite increased by 2.89-fold compared to the control group. Following 5 months of storage, the spore yield of alginate granules increased by 1.31-fold, demonstrating superior storage performance relative to the WP08 spore powder and the rice based granules control groups. These results indicate that the formulation exhibits enhanced UV resistance and improved storage stability. The alginate granules prepared by the WP08 strain of M. pingshaense in this study have broad prospects for underground pest control.

Key words: Metarhizium pingshaense, sodium alginate, nutrient booster, crosslinking reaction, alginate granules

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