Water dispersible formulation for delivery of biocontrol fungi to reduce aflatoxin

摘要

A formulation containing conidia of non-toxigenic strains of fungi is a useful biocontrol agent for preventing toxin contamination in agricultural commodities, especially those for human and animal consumption such as peanuts, corn, cotton and tree nuts. The formulation of the invention is a water dispersible granule formulation suitable for spraying and includes non-toxigenic and/or non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains capable of inhibiting growth of fungi which produce aflatoxin and further capable of suppressing production of aflatoxin by the toxigenic fungi. A method of preparing the formulation is shown.

主权项

1. A water-dispersible granular biocontrol formulation for administering to crop plants comprising: (1) a biocontrol agent comprising an effective amount of a conidia preparation of a non-toxigenic or non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strain for the reduction of aflatoxin contamination of food and feed commodities; (2) a binding agent; (3) an agent having osmoprotectant and adhesive properties; (4) a carrier agent, and (5) a nutrient source wherein the biocontrol agent is in suspension, wherein the amount of osmoprotectant adhesive agent is in the range of about 5-20% by dry weight of the complete formulation, wherein said agents and nutrient source exist in said formulation as a blended mixture, and wherein said biocontrol agent is embedded in a matrix of said mixture, said embedded biocontrol agent maintaining viability with a high degree of stability when upon dispersion in water and administered, is released to function biocompetitively.