In greenhouse experiments, unrefined corn oil was tested as an adjuvant with the mycoherbicidal fungus, Colletotrichum truncatum. A1:1 (V/V) fungus/corn oil tank mixture extended by at least 70 h the period of time in which the fungus remains infective between inoculation and the onset of dew. This formulation also reduced the dew period requirements for optimal weed pathogenesis and mortality from 12 h to 2 h, and reduced the required spray volume by 100-fold, from 500 L/ha to 5 L/ha. These results suggest that formulating C. truncatum in unrefined corn oil greatly improves the bioherbicidal potential of this pathogen.

A water-corn oil (unrefined) emulsion has promise as a carrier for application of the mycoherbicide, Colletotrichum truncatum. We investigated this formulation (normal emulsion; oil in water) for influences on conidia germination, appressoria formation, and mycoherbicidal activity of C. truncatum. Germination of conidia after application to hemp sesbania leaves was increased from 30% in water alone to 92% in the water-corn oil emulsion (water:oil, 1:1, by vol). The emulsion did not affect appressoria formation. of the several other oils tested, safflower seed oil enhanced in vitro germination but did not enhance germination and mycoherbicide activity when the conidia-emulsion formulation was applied to hemp sesbania leaves. Application of C. truncatum conidia in the unrefined corn oil emulsion to hemp sesbania seedlings resulted in 89 to 97% control of the weed after a 24 to 72 h dew delay. The emulsion enhanced mycoherbicide efficacy by stimulating conidia germination by protecting the conidia during a dew-free period, hence, increasing weed infection when a dew occurred.