Mass production and commercial formulation of Paecilomyces lilacinus

The opportunistic nematode egg parasitic fungus, Paecilomyces lilacinus was mass produced in different liquid media for evaluation of spore production. The highest mycelial weight was found in semi selective medium (19.8g). The least mycelial weight was found in PDB (10.5g). The highest spore load was found in semi selective medium (32.8 X 10⁷ cfu/g). The least spore production was found in PDB (10.3 X10⁷ cfu/g). The mass produced fungus was formulated with different carrier materials like fly ash, vermiculite, rice hull ash and talc and the viability of the spores were tested at frequent intervals. The viability of the fungus lasted for 120 days in talc and fly ash. Multiplication of the fungus was quicker and more when substrates was boiled with 5% jaggery solution. Bagasse + 5% jaggery showed the highest weight loss (25.6%), followed by paddy straw + 5% jaggery (20.4%). This indicated the utilization of the substrate by fungus for its multiplication.