Optimizing Semi-solid Fermentation Substrates for Enhanced Conidia Production of Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson as a Biopesticides for Insect Control

Authors

  • Xuan Trinh Thi

    Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam
  • Mai Lam Thi Xuan

    Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam
  • Xuan Le Thi Ngoc

    Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam
  • Son Pham Kim

    Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam
  • Dao Truong Thanh Quynh

    Cooperative Union of An Giang Province, An Giang Province 880000, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v7i3.10479
Received: 12 June 2025 | Revised: 16 June 2025 | Accepted: 18 June 2025 | Published Online: 26 June 2025

Abstract

Biological insecticides have gained importance in modern society because they cause minimal environmental harm and reduce pests' ability to develop resistance. Nomuraea rileyi, a facultative entomopathogenic fungus, is suitable for infecting lepidopteran pests, including Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera. This work aims to identify a suitable semi-solid fermentation medium to increase the conidia production of N. rileyi and enhance its biological control ability as mycoinsecticide. Research is carried out on broken rice, wheat, sorghum, and corn as substrates, both with and without nutrient addition. It also covers incubation under set conditions, colony harvesting, and conidial yield and germination determination using a haemocytometer. All the study was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) and a test of significance was set at p <0.05 using analysis of variance (ANOVA). This work aimed to establish the effect of various substrates on growth and conidia formation in N. rileyi. The highest conidia count of 10 × 10⁸ CFU/g on day 15. The result was obtained from BR + Nu followed by sorghum 7 × 10⁸ CFU/g, corn 7 × 10⁸ CFU/g and wheat 6.5 × 10⁸ CFU/g. Thus, post-drying, the highest corresponding viability was observed in the product containing BR+Nu – 6.20 ×10⁸ CFU/g. Adding rice bran (BR+RB, 150g each) still increases conidial yield up to 14×108 CFU /g at 15 DAI. These findings thus assert that broken rice and supplementation affect conidia yield and viability.

Keywords:

Nomuraea Rileyi; Biopesticides; Semi-solid Fermentation; Entomopathogenic Fungi

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How to Cite

Trinh Thi, X., Thi Xuan, M. L., Thi Ngoc, X. L., Kim, S. P., & Thanh Quynh, D. T. (2025). Optimizing Semi-solid Fermentation Substrates for Enhanced Conidia Production of Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson as a Biopesticides for Insect Control. Research in Ecology, 7(3), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v7i3.10479

Issue

Vol. 7, Iss. 3 (September 2025) (in progress)

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Articles

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Copyright © 2025 Xuan Trinh Thi, Mai Lam Thi Xuan, Xuan Le Thi Ngoc , Son Pham Kim, Dao Truong Thanh Quynh

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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