An alginate-based encapsulation enhances shelf life and bioactivity of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control

Table 3 Viability of Metarhizium anisopliae in encapsulated beads at different time interval

Drying method	Initial spore load in the admixture (× 10⁸ spore/ml)	Population of M. anisopliae (× 10⁷ CFU/g) at different time interval ± Standard error
Drying method	Initial spore load in the admixture (× 10⁸ spore/ml)	0 h	4 h	24 h	168 h	336 h
Air flow dry	1.00	17.8 ± 2.2a	17.2 ± 1.9a	17.0 ± 0.9a	16.0 ± 1.2a	16.0 ± 0.5a
Freeze-treated dry	1.00	21.6 ± 1.5a	21.2 ± 1.3a	21.2 ± 1.2a	20.8 ± 0.8a	20.0 ± 1.2a

Data with the same letter within column are not significantly different at P < 0.05