Date: 3/30/99

Time: 10:25

Type: Symposium

Number: 118

Adjuvants and formulations for environmentally sensitive pesticides

*M. McGuire, NCAUR, USDA-ARS, Peoria, IL 61604
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In light of the Food Quality and Protection Act, many uses of chemical pesticides are in danger of being lost. Biopesticides derived from insect pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa are currently being touted as replacements for these chemicals. Unfortunately, adoption of biopesticides by growers has lagged and commercialization has not reached predicted potential. One of the reasons for lack of acceptance is poor stability of these environmentally sensitive agents, both on the shelf and after application. Through the development of formulations and adjuvants, field life of insect pathogenic bacteria and viruses has been significantly extended. Formulation and adjuvant ingredients are derived from naturally occurring polymers such as corn flour, gluten, casein, and lignin. These materials, when crosslinked around the microbial pesticide, effectively screen sunlight. When dried properly and with the right blend of ingredients, shelf life of viruses can also be improved. In addition, when used as adjuvants, the spray deposits become rainfast. Other pesticides, including SLAM (a corn rootworm adulticide) and Bravo (a fungicide) have shown resistance to rainfall when combined with one or more of the materials listed above.

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