Specifications:
MH 6
Weight: gross packed 71 kg (including 1 spare spore cylinder in 2 boxes).
Dimensions (cyclone & substrate column): 430 x 500 (deep) x 830 mm high
Electrical supply: 3-phase or
220-240 v. MycoHarvesters are normally supplied either with 13 amp (rectangular
pin, fused) or European standard (round pin) plugs. Other standards can be fitted
on request, otherwise equipment will be supplied without plug.
Particle classification:
Based on analysis of extraction samples of aerial conidia of Metarhizium
anisopliae, the MH1 and MH5 easily conformed to the particle size specifications
established during research by the LUBILOSA Programme. The geometry and therefore the performance of the MH3, MH5 and MH6 are the same. For production of stable formulations, the size spectrum of extracted material (by volume) should be:
<10 µm: >80%
<100 µm: 100%
Brochure (English): MH6
Brochure (Portugese): MH6
Brochure (Spanish): MH6
Things
that the MycoHarvester 6 can and cannot do
The MycoHarvester
6 is first and foremost a research tool for mycopesticide development.
This device is an "enabling technology"
designed for small-medium scale sample preparation (typically processing up
to 50 kg of substrate to produce approximately 1 kg of spores per day). Scaled-up
units (the MH 3) are also available, which use a different
method of substrate agitation. Since the MH 6 uses essentially the same cyclone
geometry, it simulates scaled-up mycopesticide
production.
The MH 6 is suitable
for small-scale, non-continuous preparation of samples of beneficial microbial
agents, in genera such as: Metarhizium, Beauveria, Paecilomyces, and
similar powdery fungi used in mycopesticide products. It also has been used
with several species of Trichoderma. If spore separation problems are encountered,
initial approaches might include: reducing the surface moisture content of the
substrate (we recommend <20%) and factors that influence fungal conidiation
(nutrients, rate of drying etc.).
Conidia are separated
into a form that is easy to desiccate and package, from solid substrates: usually
cooked grains such as rice. Experience in the LUBILOSA programme has shown this to be a key process in the development of commercially
acceptable mycopesecticides. The principal advantages of MycoHarvesters include:
- Elimination
of large (>100 µm) particles which cause blockages in sprayers
- High quality
spore separation, which can enable the development of physically stable formulations.
- Operator safety:
spore dust is sucked into the machine.
- Fast, cost
effective processing of experimental quantities of mycopesticides...
- ... facilitating
better storage by concentrating spores for subsequent thorough drying.
Different fungi
have different production characteristics. The surface properties and morphology
of conidia vary considerably between different fungal species. Before processing,
the substrate surface should be dry: but the degree of drying required before
processing must be determined experimentally. Having separated pure spore preparations,
work can commence on optimising storage (usually a function of moisture content
and temperature) and formulation and packaging. The development of storage models
has also proved to be an important tool for estimating shelf life: Tran Hong
et al. (2001) have adapted seed storage models for mycopesticide use, which
have been proven with M. anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana. Further
information on formulations can be obtained from Burges (1998) and quality control
by Jenkins & Grzywacz (2000).
We strongly emphasise
that although these parameters have been established for products such as 'Green
Muscle', other fungal isolates are likely to differ substantially and
all procedures must be checked carefully before large scale production begins.
Your MycoHarvester helps to ensure that experimental results are not confounded
by presence of substrate, mycelium and other contaminants.
Burges, H.D. (ed.)
(1998) Formulation of Microbial Biopesticides, beneficial microorganisms,
nematodes and seed treatments. Publ. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, 412 pp.
Hong, T. D., Gunn,
J., Ellis, R.H., Jenkins, N.E., Moore, D. (2001) The effect of storage environment
on the longevity of conidia of Beauveria bassiana. Mycological Research 105(5): 597-602.
Jenkins,N.E. and
Grzywacz, D. (2000) Quality control of fungal and viral biocontrol agents -
assurance of product performance. Biocontrol Science and Technology 10:
753-777. |