Effect of airflow rate on yields of Steinernema carpocapse Az 20 in liquid cult...

• Author(s): Neves, J. M. ; Teixeira, J. A. ; Simões, N. ; Mota, M.
• Date: 2001
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/1755
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): External-loop airlift; Airflow; Entomopathogenic nematodes; Mating effectiveness; Mass production
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Maximization of the contact between males and females is a key factor in the production of the nematode Steinernema carpocapsae in a bioreactor. The influence of the airflow rate in male and female distribution and mass production in an external-loop bioreactor with a deceleration zone was studied. When operating at an airflow rate of 0.05 vvm, a high retention of females in the deceleration zone of the bioreactor was observed and a larger nematode productivity was obtained. At this aeration rate there was a higher proportion of males in that zone, which together with the lower circulation rate, increases the probability of encounters, thereby explaining the increase in productivity.