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Video Q&A ViewAttendees 1

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

10-Minute Paper

P-IE: Biocontrol On-Demand Presentations

Novel nanoparticle formulation improves tolerance of Metarhizium brunneum exposed to ultraviolet radiation

On-Demand
On-Demand
Novel nanoparticle formulations in titania or silica-based oil-in-water emulsions were tested for improving tolerance of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium brunneum strain F52, to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV tolerance of the fungus in titania or silica-based formulations was compared with aqueous suspension in 0.05% Silwet L-77 by exposing suspensions to UV light with 254 and 380 nm wavelengths for up to 10 min and 12 h, respectively. The level of protection following exposure to UV radiation was evaluated by assessing conidia viability and virulence against the 2nd instar tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, on cotton leaf discs. In the assessment of conidia viability (based on colony forming units), the titania-based formulation provided significantly improved protection to UV radiation at both 254 and 380 nm, whereas the silica-based formulation was not effective. In the virulence assessment, UV radiation at 380-nm for up to 12 h did not reduce fungal virulence in any formulation against thrips. At 254 nm, virulence in the silica-based formulation treatment was similar to the Silwet control. Improved UV tolerance based on virulence against thrips was exhibited with titania-based formulation after 5-min UV exposure (no difference was observed compared to 0 min of UV), though the level of protection declined at 10-min UV. These results strongly suggest that titania-based oil emulsion gave superior protection of fungal conidia in both virulence and viability compared with the silica-based emulsion. Future research will focus on evaluating different titania-based formulations for optimized protection of M. brunneum conidia against UV radiation.