## 4 Discussion
Due to the low levels of viability obtained with high concentrations of the gums used as adherents, it was necessary to make modifications by decreasing gum concentrations and achieving a higher stability of active ingredients, which allowed us to have a stable formula for up to one month. If we compared results obtained with our formulations with other reports, ours improved _H. ctitiformis_ conidia stability ([PERSON], 1983; [PERSON], 1983). This is a very important issue since _H. ctitiformis_ conidia are very sensitive to temperature and humidity changes ([PERSON], 1983). After evaluating different gums as adherents (bovine gelatin, lemon pectin, modified corn starch) at low concentrations on _Beauveria bassiana_ fungus, similar viability results to those reported by our research team after 15 d of storage were observed ([PERSON], 1983). In field tests, [PERSON] al. [25] reported that after applying conidia from _Hirsutella citiriformis_ strain INIFAP-Hir-2, which were formulated with _Acacia_ and _Hirsutella_ gums, the highest _Diaphorina citri_ mortality was achieved with _Hirsutella_ gum (80.0%), followed by the _Hirsutella_ gum without conidia (control) (57.8%). In the same trial, conidia formulated with _Acacia_ gum caused 37.8% mortality, whereas _Acacia_ gum and negative controls induced 9% mortality. Therefore, this may indicate that conidia formulations including _Hirsutella_ gums improve the efficacy of the active ingredient for _D. citri_ biocontrol. The most effective formulations were those that were kept stored at a cold temperature (4 \({}^{\circ}\)C), which maintained conidia viability above 70% after 120 d of storage, as compared with those stored at 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C, which remained viable for up to 90 d. This may be due to the use of additives to protect the active ingredient. _Acacia_ and _Hirsutella_ gums and vegetable oil powder may also provide protection to conidia. Interactions between storage temperature and bioformulate ingredients determine conidia longevity [37]. In a formulation of _Beauveria bassiana_ conidia, in the presence of hydrogenated rapeseed oil granules, we obtained 84.7% viability when stored at 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C, and 92.3% when stored at 4 \({}^{\circ}\)C, after 45 d [38]. Furthermore, it was reported that after evaluating the efficacy of various sugars as additives in _B. bassiana_ formulations, the use of gums or polysaccharides additives as additives for the active ingredient formulation, evidenced a nutritive effect and survival increase [38]. Formulations containing glucose as an additive were optimum for fungi growth and germination. Regarding shelf-life analysis, results revealed a significant variation in conidia germination, showing higher germination values (92%) after six months of storage at 30 \({}^{\circ}\)C. Similarly, a significant effect on the survival rate of polysaccharide-encapsulated _Trichoderma harzianum_ Rifai conidia was previously reported [39]. Several studies have discussed the various storage conditions' impact on conidial stability. In our study, storage of formulated conidia at 4 \({}^{\circ}\)C reduced conidia viability loss for up to 120 d, which agrees with previous reports, where _B. bassiana_ was formulated using only formulations and conidia, showing a higher germination percentage when stored at 4 \({}^{\circ}\)C than at room temperature [40]. This may be due to the cellular metabolism, since, at room temperature, conidia remain active, producing metabolites related to germination and consuming internal nutrients, which affects conidia viability and germination. At storage temperatures from 3 \({}^{\circ}\)C to 8 \({}^{\circ}\)C, fungal cells maintain a low metabolic rate and remain viable for prolonged periods of time [41; 42]. Unformulated conidia had a lower shelf life compared with formulated treatments at 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C and 4 \({}^{\circ}\)C. These results indicate that the additives present in the treatments provide a protective effect on the active ingredient, improving its stability during the storage time.