Microbials in agriculture

Biocontrol agents and biostimulants improve the resilience of plants against biotic and abiotic stressors, and are thus important sustainable crop inputs in agriculture. In particular, microbial agents offer a variety of beneficial interactions with plants.

Commercially significant microbials include the Gram-positive rhizobacterium Bacillus velezensis, which produces antimicrobial compounds that are active against plant pathogens and can trigger induced systemic resistance, thus providing both biocontrol and biostimulant action. The same applies to the fungus Trichoderma harzianum, which mobilises nutrients and protects against soil-borne diseases such as Rhizoctonia spp., Fusarium spp. and Sclerotinia spp. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is a widely used fungal biocontrol agent with efficacy against pests such as whitefly, the European corn borer and the Colorado potato beetle.

However, maintaining cell viability is a persistent challenge, even for currently marketed microbial products. In many cases, products have short shelf lives and require cooling, and as a consequence, application may be inefficient. Formulation is a key factor for tackling this challenge. Many products come as wettable powders, but liquids are often preferred as they are dust-free, easier to dose, rapidly dispersible in water and compatible with filters. Carrier fluids for microbials need to provide a low-water activity environment to ensure cell viability. Because of this, aqueous carriers are often unsuitable and non-aqueous fluids are preferred.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the potential of CITROFOL® AI to function as a carrier fluid for three commercially significant microbials (Bacillus velezensis, Trichoderma harzianum and Beauveria bassiana), focusing on its impact on cell viability. We also aimed to develop a protocol for adjusting the rheology of CITROFOL® AI to ensure stable suspensions. Finally, a greenhouse study was conducted to confirm that CITROFOL® AI is compatible with plants.

Benefits of CITROFOL® AI as a carrier fluid for microbials
CITROFOL® is Jungbunzlauer’s globally recognised brand of citrate esters. The CITROFOL® range comprises clear, colourless and odourless oily liquids. One of these citrate esters is triethyl citrate, sold as CITROFOL® AI, which is produced by esterification of raw materials derived from fermentation and is thus 100% bio-based and biodegradable.

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