Apple pomace as effective substrate for growth and spore production of entomopathogenic fungi, Lecanicillium lecanii, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus

Abstract

Apple pomace (AP), the left over waste after extraction of juice, is often dumped in open field and that adds to environmental pollution. In this context and a rich source of carbohydrates, we tried  to standardize the AP as a substrate for growth and spore production of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) viz., Lecanicillium lecanii, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus by adding water, ammonium nitrate, as well as using different temperatures and pH. Results have shown that addition of 40 mL of water, 4 g of ammonium nitrate, and maintaining temperature at 30^oC and pH alkaline (pH 8 & 10) in AP recorded significantly higher spore production of L. lecanii (50.53, 52.81, 151.2 and 50.26-52.2 lakh spores/mL, respectively), B. bassiana (50.44, 51.87, 152.2 and 50.14-51.66 spores/mL, respectively) and P. fumosoroseus (50.56, 52.18, 149.3 and 50.14-52.31 lakh spores/mL, respectively) as compared to positive control, potato dextrose agar (41.76-43.8 lakh spores/mL).