SELECTION OF INERT INGREDIENTS ANO ADJUVANTS FOR A GRANULATED FORMULATION OF THE BACILLUS SPHAERICUS NEIDEThe aim of this research was to evaluate the buoyancy and biological compatibility of different materiais for incorporation to the Bacillus sphaericus (granules). The buoyancy tests were accomplished in glass fishbowls, containing distilled water. Samples of the powdered materiais or granules were distributed in the surface of the water and periodic evaluations revealed that corn-cob, cork and vermiculite were the ones more buoyant. Related to the compatibility, the materiais were inoculated in the surface of in nutrient-agar medium in Petri dishes previously inoculated with spores of B. sphaericus. After incubation at 30 ºC for 24 hours, it was observed that all the materiais were compatible. Besides the mentioned parameters, the low cost and the resistance to the processing suggest the choice of the corn as vehicle of the formulation and of the adjuvant tested as compatible for the product in development.
KEY WORDS:
Bacillus sphaericus, formulation; inert; adjuvant; Culex quinquefasciatus, mosquito.