What are MycoHarvesters?

MycoHarvesters are designed to safely and efficiently harvest conidia (spores) of beneficial fungi, as part of production processes from solid substrates (e.g. conidiated grains such as rice) resulting in preparations that are easy to desiccate, formulate and package. Effectively this concentrates powdery conidia of insect control agents and certain disease control agents including some Trichoderma spp (see biological control agents for cocoa diseases). Practical experience, originally in the international LUBILOSA Programme, has shown that this is a key process in the development of commercially acceptable products.

MycoHarvesters constitute one of the "enabling technologies" for biopesticide development: facilitating high quality formulation development. They have undergone continuous development since 1998, by ACIS R&D and IPARC, previously in collaboration with CABI. Currently there are two principal versions: the MH 3 for scaled-up production and the new MH 5 model, which (like its forerunner the MH 1) separates a product of high particle size quality on a laboratory scale. For further guidance, see "What MycoHarvesters can and cannot do" and the FAQ page (which includes species extracted to date).

The MH 5: an enabling technology

Our latest model is the MH 5b, like the MH III, is based on ACIS' patented 'Diclone' technology. It has significant advantages over previous designs, including:

• Greater ease of handling product and cleaning
• Autoclavable (stainless steel) cyclones
• Taller fluid bed column: capable of handling greater quantities of substrate - with improved agitation device
• Better simulation of scaled-up production
• Adaptability: the MH V series is more modular in design than previously: so that a basic unit for laboratory-trial-scale development can be upgraded as production needs increase.

The advantages of MycoHarvesters include:

• High quality spore separation, which:
  (a) prevents blockages of sprayer nozzles and filters and
  (b) enables the development of high quality formulations.
• Operator safety: spore dust is sucked into the machine.
• Fast processing: typically 1 kg of substrate is processed in less than 5 minutes.
• Cost effective processing of experimental quantities of mycopesticides.
• Enhancing storage techniques by concentrating spores for subsequent thorough drying.