Phone:
(717) 258-1183
Fax: (717) 258-1116
Fax: (717) 258-1116
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Phone:
(717) 258-1183
Fax: (717) 258-1116 |
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Bioassays
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| Benzon Research has
performed thousands of potency bioassays on microbial pest control
agents such as Bacillus thuringiensis, viruses, and fungi.
Diet incorporation, diet surface contamination, and droplet feeding
bioassays can be used with any of the lepidopteran species that are
colonized in-house, along with other species available from outside
sources. The picture to the right shows the scoring of a baculovirus
bioassay
against Helicoverpa zea. |
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Cups containing Aedes aegypti
larvae (left) are being dosed with a production lot of B.t.
israelensis for label standardization. We routinely test B.t.i.
fermentation broths, concentrates, powders, granules, briquets,
and other formulations from all over the world.
Bioassays are also performed as part of fermentation or formulation improvement efforts and storage stability studies. |
| The droplet-feeding bioassay works remarkably
well for certain combinations of active ingredient and species. To the
right, droplets containing blue dye and baculovirus particles are being
presented to neonate larvae of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea
. Fed larvae will be held on artificial diet for several days before
determining mortality. |
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In addition to the above types of assays, Benzon Research can evaluate additives for feeding stimulation or deterency, perform topical applications of chemical insecticides to insects as small as mosquitoes, and evaluate sublethal effects. |
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©2008 Benzon Research Inc.
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