Influence of Moisture Content on Temperature Tolerance and Storage of Metarhizium flavoviride Conidia in an Oil Formulation

Abstract

Investigations of the temperature tolerances of Metarhizium flavoviride conidia, of different moisture contents, in an oil formulation were carried out. The conidia were dried to 5, 9, 15 or 19% moisture contents and exposed to a range of temperatures, -15, 12, 25, 38, 48 and 55 C. Viability declined due to high temperatures and high moisture contents. After 4 months of storage, the conidia were at over 80% viability in all but the 19% moisture content group of the 25 C treatment and all the samples stored at lower temperatures. In a second experiment, conidia dried to 4-5% moisture content showed greater temperature tolerance than conidia with higher moisture contents. Short-term storage under adverse conditions could be feasible with conidia dried to a suitable degree.