Tenebrio molitor biomass as inducer of lipases and proteases produced by Paecilomyces fumosoroseus

Abstract

The entomopathogenic fungi are microorganisms commonly used in biocontrol practices of nematodes, insects, among others. The main mechanism of action of these fungi is the parasite mediated by lytic enzymes, depending of the direct interaction of the microorganism with the substrate inducers. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of eight continuous generations of the fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and the effect of the addition of biomass from Tenebrio molitor into the culture medium for the production of proteases and lipases. The P. fumosoroseus strain showed to be an important producer of proteases and lipases under the present conditions evaluated, which gives it a high potential to act as an active agent in bioinsecticidal products. The production of lipases were maintained at homogeneous levels throughout the generations of P. fumosoroseus evaluated, however the production of proteases was influenced, with an increase up to the fourth generation. The highest activity values were 800 and 200 U/L for lipase and protease, respectively.