SOLID STATE CULTURE OF MOLD TO PRODUCE BIOLOGICAL PESTICIDES AGAINST GYPSY MOTH

GYPSY MOTHS, SERIOUS DEFOLIATORS OF INCREASING FOREST ACREAGE, MAY BE COMBATED WITH ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI. COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NATURAL BIOCIDES HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY THE INABILITY TO CHEAPLY PRODUCE LARGE NUMBER S OF VIABLE SPORES IN LIQUID SUBMERGED CULTURE. A COLUMNAR SOLID STATE CULTURE (CSSC) REACTOR DEVELOPED BY THIS COMPANYMAY BE ADAPTED FOR LOW-COST SPORE PRODUCTION. THIS APPROACH IS NOT WITHOUT RISK, BUT DOES OBVIATE LOW VIABILITY AND DOSERATES ASSOCIATED WITH MANY PAST FIELD TRIAL FAILURES. THE EFFORT PROPOSED HERE WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS GROWING BEAUVERIA BASSIANA SPORES WITH EFFICACY AGAINST GYPSY MOTHS.THIS WILL BE A MODEL DEMONSTRATING HOW THE CSSC REACTOR CAN ECONOMICALLY PRODUCE EFFECTIVE, NATURAL INSECTICIDES.