Determining the stability and conidial yield of the entomogenous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae

通过早期NERC资助的一个项目，已经鉴定出三种昆虫病原真菌绿僵菌（Metarhizium anisopliae），它们对蜱具有高致病性，蜱是家畜的重要害虫和人畜共患疾病的媒介。随后的研究表明，这些菌株对害虫也有效。两名独立顾问已经确定，以甲肼为基础的产品存在市场，但这些产品必须以经济的方式生产，而且质量不能下降，以便与传统化学农药竞争。影响产品成本的两个关键因素是菌株的稳定性和分生孢子的产量。当真菌持续维持在富营养培养基上时，它很容易退化（失去毒力并表现出表型不稳定性）。本项目的重点是确定绿僵菌菌株的稳定性和分生孢子产量，并确定哪些菌株具有商业化价值。

Three strains of the insect-pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae have been identified through an earlier NERC funded project that are highly pathogenic to ticks, which are important pests of livestock and vectors of zoonotic diseases. Subsequent studies showed that these strains are also efficacious against insect pests. Two independent consultants have established that markets exist for Metarhizium-based products but these must be produced economically and without a decline in quality in order to compete with conventional chemical pesticides. Two key factors that greatly influence the product cost are the stability of the strains and conidial yield. Fungi can readily degenerate (lose virulence and exhibit phenotypic instability) when continuously maintained on nutrient rich media. The focus of this project is to determine the stability and conidial yield of the Metarhizium strains and establish which are worth commercialising.