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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305531
Title: Effect of spray drying processing parameters on the insecticidal activity of two encapsulated formulations of baculovirus

Author
item CAMACHO, JUDITH - Universidad De La Sabana
item Behle, Robert
item VILLAMIZAR, LAURA - Corpoica
item GOMEZ, MARTHA - Corpoica

Submitted to: Biocontrol Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2015
Publication Date: 4/11/2015
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62263
Citation: Camacho, J.E., Behle, R.W., Villamizar, L.F., Gomez, M.I. 2015. Effect of spray drying processing parameters on the insecticidal activity of two encapsulated formulations of baculovirus. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 25(8):911-927. DOI: 10.1080/09583157.2015.1020761.

Interpretive Summary: This research demonstrates that spray drying is a versatile process for encapsulating baculoviruses as bioinsecticides. Parameters such as nozzle selection, formulation, and drying temperatures affect the process yield, as do some physical parameters such as moisture of the final product, but often the latter have little or no effect on the insecticidal activity of the baculovirus. As a formulation processing technique, spray drying offers the biopesticide production industry with an efficient tool to develop biopesticide formulations of baculoviruses, with added benefits provided by encapsulation of the beneficial microbes. Adoption of this technology will improve the opportunities to successfully market biological pest control agents and reduce society's dependence on chemicals for control of pest insects.

Technical Abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of spray dryer processing parameters on the process yield and insecticidal activity of baculovirus to support the development of this beneficial group of microbes as biopesticides. For each of two baculoviruses [granulovirus (GV) from Pieris rapae (L.) and multi-nuclear polyhedrosis virus (MNPV) from Anagrapha falcifera (Kirby)] 16 samples were prepared using combinations of two dryer-atomizer configurations (rotary atomizer and two-fluid spray atomizer), four drying temperatures (50°C to 100°C outlet temperatures), and two encapsulating formulations (lignin and methylacrylic acid polymer). Spray-dried samples were evaluated based on process yield, product moisture, and insecticidal activity evaluated under laboratory conditions. With a water feed rate of 20 ml/minute and increasing inlet temperatures, the two atomizing configurations produced similar outlet temperatures. The microparticles produced with a two-fluid spray atomizer had lower product yields (57.8 + 18.80% - 74.6 + 4.26%) when compared with the paired samples produced with a rotary-disc atomizer (58.1 + 7.13% - 82.6 + 3.12%). The microcapsules prepared with two-fluid spray showed water activity values below 0.3. The microparticles produced with rotary-disc atomizer and methylacrylic acid polymer formed residue on the wheel, reducing product yield. The atomizer significantly affected the physical properties like the activity water and the process yield. However, the spray dryer processing parameters (atomizer, drying temperatures, and formulation) had minimal effect on the insecticidal activity of two baculoviruses. These data demonstrate the versatility of spray drying for processing baculoviruses by documenting the impact of the process to improve production yield while having minimal impact on insecticidal activity.