Effect of Different Storage Temperature Regimes on Spore Viability of Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom.) Samson in some Formulations

A laboratory experiment was carried out to identify optimum formulation medium and temperature for storage of Paecilomyces lilacinus based on spore viability. Paecilomyces lilacinus spores were produced on PDA, paddy grain, sorghum grain and tapioca broth, formulated on coconut coir pith, talc and vermiculite and stored at 0, 15 and 27 ± 1°C for 150 days, with P. lilacinus spores stored at -20°C on sterile silica grain as control. In general, the spore viability in grain based formulations (paddy and sorgbum) declined more rapidly than on tapioca broth based formulations. The spores stored at -20°C on sterile silica grain recorded 98 per cent viability even at 150^th day of storage. Spores formulated on tapioca broth with talc, vermiculite or coir pith as inert base, and on paddy grain with talc as inert base, exhibited more tban 80 per cent viability at 150 days of storage at ooe temperature which declined to ≥60 per cent at 27 ± 1°C after 150 days of storage.