CITROFOL® as a carrier fluid for microbial crop inputs

Microbial biocontrol and biostimulant agents play an increasing role as environmental-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. However, a major challenge is their long-term stabilization in the product. The selection of suitable co-formulants is a key tool to achieving a long shelf life.

CITROFOL® AI (triethyl citrate) is a non-aqueous, oily liquid, which provides an environment of low water activity to the microbes, thus stabilizing their viability. We demonstrate how this results in prolonged shelf life of commercially relevant microbes such as Trichoderma Harzianum and Beauveria Bassiana. CITROFOL® AI is water-soluble in relevant use rates, thus enabling formulation and dilution in water without adding emulsifiers. It is a bio-based, hazard-free and biodegradable co-formulant. Hands-on protocols are available to modify the rheology of CITROFOL® AI, conferring high suspension stability of microbial cells whilst ensuring good pourability of the product. CITROFOL® AI was also shown to be fully compatible with plants, both when applied as foliar spray and soil drench.

CITROFOL® AI thus constitutes an innovative liquid co-formulant with specific suitability to enhance shelf life of microbials.