ARS | Publication request: Method for Determining the best Hydrophilic-lipophilic Balance (HLB) Number of a Compatible Non-ionic Surfactant in Formulation Development for Areal Conidia of Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes)

Submitted to: Biocontrol Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 6, 2009
Publication Date: March 1, 2009
Repository URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/32213
Citation: Jin, X., Ugine, T. A., Chen, J., Streett, D. A. 2009. Method for Determining the best Hydrophilic-lipophilic Balance (HLB) Number of a Compatible Non-ionic Surfactant in Formulation Development for Areal Conidia of Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes). Biocontrol Science and Technology. 19(3): 341-347.

Interpretive Summary: Metarhizium anisopliae is an important entomopathogenic fungus used in biological control of many pests. Aerial conidia of M. anisopliae do not readily mix with water so surfactants are needed to suspend the conidia in water- based commercial formulations. A method was developed to optimize the selection of surfactants in commercial product development. This method will enable researchers to determine the optimum surfactant needed in developing water-based formulations.

Technical Abstract: A non-swirling/direct dropping method was developed to optimize a compatible, non-ionic surfactant for formulation development of Metarhizium anisopliae conidia by determining the optimal hydrophilic-lipophilic balance number. Results showed the optimal HLB number of the tested M. anisopliae conidia was 8; dehydration did not change the optimal HLB number but significantly increased wetting time.