Patent Number: 5968808
Docket Number: 3298
Serial Number: 8944245
Date Patented: 10/19/1999

Technology Description: The invention is an effective way to produce high volumes of dessication-tolerant spores from the fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus useful for biologically controlling insect pests such as the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Previous attempts to culture fungal spores as biological controls in liquid culture fermentation has yielded unstable spores that perish during drying. The invention uses an inexpensive nitrogen source, such as casein, yeast extract, soy protein, cotton seed protein or hydrolyzed corn protein, to culture spores tolerant to desiccation, while having an acceptable shelf life. The whitefly is a phloem-feeding insect, which is resistant to chemical insecticides and has few natural enemies, attacks more than 600 plants. In Texas and California alone, agronomic losses exceed $250 million annually. Reference: Please refer to Patent Number 5,968,808, which issued on October 19, 1999. Inventor: Mark A. Jackson Bioactive Agents Research Peoria, Illinois 61604-3902 (309) 681-6283 / Fax: (309) 681-6693 jacksoma@mail.ncaur.usda.gov