Formalin-casein enhances water absorbency of calcium alginate beads and activity of encapsulated Metarhizium brunneum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

ABSTRACT: The control of root-feeding wireworms has become more challenging as synthetic soil insecticides have been progressively phased out due to environmental risk concerns. Innovative microbial control alternatives such as the so-called attract-and-kill strategy depend on the rapid and successful development of dried encapsulated microorganisms, which is initiated by rehydration. Casein is a functional additive that is already used in food or pharmaceutical industry due to its water binding capacity. Cross-linked forms such as formalin-casein (FC), exhibit altered network structures. To determine whether FC influences the rehydration of alginate beads in order to increase the efficacy of an attract-and-kill formulation for wireworm pest control, we incorporated either casein or FC in different

SUBMITTER: Hermann KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8373754 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature