Chitosan beads with neem and encapsulated entomopathogenic fungal spores for pest control

Objective: Synthesize chitosan pearls with neem and encapsulated entomopathogenic fungal spores for pest control through controlled release. Methodology: The synthesis of the pearls was carried out by means of chitosan suspensions with each one of the spores of the entomopathogenic fungi (B. bassiana, M. robertsii and I. javanica) and the neem extract (aqueous and in oil), which were cross-linked with sodium tripolyphosphate. The synthesized beads were characterized for size, moisture content, and morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, the swelling kinetics of each of the beads and the adjustments to the first and second order kinetic models were carried out. Results: The synthesized pearls presented stable structures and homogeneous diameters; with a moisture content greater than 90% in all cases. The morphological analysis revealed that the internal structure of the pearls presents cavernous networks with homogeneously distributed pores. Finally, the swelling kinetics of the beads presented a better fit to the second-order model. Limitations on study: The study was limited to three entomopathogenic fungi and two neem extracts. Conclusions: The encapsulation of neem and the spores of the entomopathogenic fungi in the chitosan pearls was achieved, which will allow the controlled release of both the neem and the spores thanks to their porous structure and swelling capacity. Keywords: chitosan, neem, B. bassiana, M. robertsii, I. javanica.