OPTIMISATION OF PRODUCTION, FREEZE-DRYING AND STORAGE OF Pseudomonas fluorescens BTP1

The optimisation of production and freeze-drying of P. fluorescens used as a bio-control agent was investigated. P. fluorescens BTP1 was produced in a bioreactor with different against-pressure value (0.1 and 0.3 bar for bioreactor 1 and 2 respectively) and cells were harvested during the stationary phase (2Hrs. and 4Hrs. for bioreactor 1 and 2 respectively). A mixture of protective compounds were tested for freeze-drying, and the highest result was found for glycerol and maltodextrine (26%) followed by glycerol, maltodextrine and ascorbic acid (18.9%) and glycerol with ascorbic acid (8.5%). We observed that the survival rate is better at 4°C than at room temperature and those powders with protective compounds have a survival rate greater than the powder without protective compounds during storage.