Development of W/O/W multiple emulsion formulation containing Burkholderia gladioli

W/O/W (water-in-oil-in-water) type multiple emulsion was applied to improve the storage stability of an antagonistic microorganism, Burkholderia gladioli. Encapsulation of microorganism into a W/O/W emulsion was conducted by using a two-step emulsification method. W/O/W emulsion was prepared by the incorporation of B. gladioli into rapeseed oil and the addition of polyglycerin polyriconolate (PGPR) and castor oil polyoxyethylene (COG 25) as the primary and secondary emulsifier, respectively. Microcrystalline cellulose was used as an emulsion stabilizer. To evaluate the usefulness of W/O/W emulsion formulation as a microbial pesticide for controlling the bacterial wilt pathogen (Ralstonia solanacearum), the storage stability and antagonistic activity of emulsion formulation were tested in vitro. The storage stability test revealed that the viability of formulated cells in emulsion was higher than that of unformulated. cells in culture broth. At 4°C, the viabilities of formulated cells and unformulated cells at the end of 20 weeks decreased to about 2 and 5 log cycles, respectively. At 37°C, the viability of formulated cells decreased to only 2 log cycles at the end of storage. On the other hand, the viable cells in culture broth were not detected after 13 weeks. In activity test, formulated cells in emulsion were more effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogen than unformulated cells in culture broth. Unformulated cells completely lost their antagonistic activity during storage under similar conditions. The W/O/W multiple emulsion formulation was shown to be useful as the novel liquid formulation for biological control.