03071naa a2200397 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200140006002400520007410000180012624501980014426000090034252018280035165000230217965000270220265000120222965000280224165000100226965000110227965000140229065000240230465000220232865000350235065000110238565300160239670000250241270000210243770000170245870000250247570000190250070000120251970000200253170000240255170000190257577300790259421335502021-08-13       2021    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d  a1432-06147 ahttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11372-12DOI1 aSANTOS, T. R.  aInorganic pellets containing microsclerotia of Metarhizium anisopliaeba new technological platform for the biological control of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus.h[electronic resource]  c2021  aAbstract: This study was sought to devise pellets containing inorganic materials and microsclerotia of Metarhizium anisopliae strain IP 119 for biological control of Rhipicephalus microplus, the most economically important tick in Brazilian cattle industry. In addition, we evaluated the storage stability of the pellets, their tolerance to ultraviolet radiation (UV-B), and efficacy against ticks under laboratory conditions. Fungal microsclerotia were produced by liquid culture fermentation and mixed with pre-selected inorganic matrices: vermiculite powder, diatomaceous earth, and colloidal silicon dioxide (78:20:2, w/w/w). The microsclerotial pellets were then prepared by a two-stage process involving extrusion and spheronization. Pellet size averaged 525.53 ± 7.74 micrometers, with a sphericity index of 0.72 ± 0.01, while biomass constituents did not affect the wet mass properties. Conidial production from microsclerotial pellets upon rehydration ranged from 1.85 × 10^9 to 1.97 × 10^9 conidia g-1 with conidial viability &gt= 93%. Conidial production from pellets stored at 4 °C was invariable for up to 21 days. Unformulated microsclerotia and microsclerotial pellets were extremely tolerant to UV-B compared with aerial conidia. Engorged tick females exposed to conidia from sporulated pellets applied to soil samples and upon optimal rehydration exhibited shorter oviposition time length, shorter life span, and reduced number of hatched larvae. In summary, microsclerotial pellets of M. anisopliae IP 119 effectively suppressed R. microplus and showed outstanding UV-B tolerance in laboratory tests. Prospectively, this formulation prototype is promising for targeting the non-parasitic stage of this tick on outdoor pasture fields and may offer a novel mycoacaricide for its sustainable management.  aBiological control  aEntomopathogenic fungi  aPellets  aRhipicephalus microplus  aTicks  aBovino  aCarrapato  aControle Biológico  aFungo Entomógeno  aFungo Para Controle Biológico  aPellet  aBioefficacy1 aPAIXÃO, F. R. S. da1 aCATÃO, A. M. L.1 aMUNIZ, E. R.1 aRIBEIRO-SILVA, C. S.1 aTAVEIRA, S. F.1 aLUZ, C.1 aMASCARIN, G. M.1 aFERNANDES, E. K. K.1 aMARRETO, R. N.  tApplied Microbiology and Biotechnology, V. 105, N. 12, p. 5001-5012, 2021.