ARMAZENAMENTO E CONSERVAÇÃO DE FUNGOS ENTOMOPATOGÊNICOS E RIZOSFÉRICOS: RELATÓRIO DE ESTÁGIO NA EMPRESA METABTECH

Abstract

The use of microorganisms in agriculture has become a fundamental strategy for the development of more sustainable and efficient production systems. In this context, entomopathogenic and rhizospheric fungi stand out due to their potential in biological pest control, plant growth promotion, and improvement of soil health. This study aimed to describe and analyze the activities carried out during the internship conducted at the Regenerative Innovation Center CIR Metabtech, with emphasis on the procedures for the preparation, storage, and conservation of entomopathogenic and rhizospheric fungi.The internship, with a total workload of 970 hours, provided practical experience in laboratory routines related to the maintenance of the physiological and genetic viability of microorganisms of agricultural interest. Different conservation methods were applied, including the Castellani method, filter paper preservation with silica gel, frozen spore storage, glycerol-based cryopreservation, and blotting paper techniques. In addition, complementary activities were performed, such as culture media preparation, fungal subculturing and reactivation, serial dilutions, plating, contamination control, and monitoring of fungal cultures (microbiological cultures maintained under laboratory conditions).The experience demonstrated that microbial storage and conservation constitute a strategic stage in agricultural biotechnology, as they directly influence the efficiency of bioinputs and the success of their application in the field. It is concluded that the internship significantly contributed to the technical and critical training of the intern, reinforcing the importance of applied research and proper microbial conservation for the advancement of regenerative agriculture in Brazil.