Bio-pesticides are key components of integrated pest management (IPM) programs receiving much practical attention as a means to reduce the load of synthetic chemical products being used to control plant diseases. The term bio-pesticide is used for microbial biological pest control agents that are applied in a similar manner to chemical pesticides. In most cropping systems, biopesticides should not necessarily be viewed as wholesale replacements for chemical control of plant diseases, but rather as a growing category of efficacious supplements that can be used as rotation agents to retard the onset of resistance to chemical pesticides and improve sustainability. In organic cropping systems, biopesticides can represent valuable tools that further supplement the rich collection of cultural practices that ensure against crop loss to diseases.
Commonly bio-pesticides are bacterial, but there are also examples of fungal control agents, including Trichoderma spp. and Ampelomyces quisqualis (a control agent for grape powdery mildew disease). Bacillus subtilis are used to control plant pathogens. Weeds and rodents have also been controlled with microbial agents. One well-known insecticide example is Bacillus thuringiensis, is active against butterfly, moth, beetles and flies as it has little effect on other organisms. it is considered more environmentally friendly than synthetic pesticides. The toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt toxin) has been incorporated directly into plants through the use of genetic engineering.
Bio-pesticides for use against crop diseases have already established themselves on a variety of crops. A major growth area for biopesticides is in the area of seed treatments and soil amendments. Fungicidal and bio-fungicidal seed treatments are used to control soil borne fungal pathogens that cause seed rots, damping-off, root rot and seedling blights. They can also be used to control internal seed–borne fungal pathogens as well as fungal pathogens that are on the surface of the seed. Many bio-fungicidal products also show capacities to stimulate plant host defenses and other physiological processes that can make treated crops more resistant to a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses.
Advantages of bio-pesticides are a) no harmful residues casing health hazards b) substantially low impact on non-target species c) cheaper than chemical pesticides d) more effective than chemical pesticides in long-term.
Disadvantages includes a) highly Pest specific b) often slow speed of action as biopesticides are usually living organisms, which bring about pest/pathogen control by multiplying within the target insect pest/pathogen
Commonly bio-pesticides are bacterial, but there are also examples of fungal control agents, including Trichoderma spp. and Ampelomyces quisqualis (a control agent for grape powdery mildew disease). Bacillus subtilis are used to control plant pathogens. Weeds and rodents have also been controlled with microbial agents. One well-known insecticide example is Bacillus thuringiensis, is active against butterfly, moth, beetles and flies as it has little effect on other organisms. it is considered more environmentally friendly than synthetic pesticides. The toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt toxin) has been incorporated directly into plants through the use of genetic engineering.
Bio-pesticides for use against crop diseases have already established themselves on a variety of crops. A major growth area for biopesticides is in the area of seed treatments and soil amendments. Fungicidal and bio-fungicidal seed treatments are used to control soil borne fungal pathogens that cause seed rots, damping-off, root rot and seedling blights. They can also be used to control internal seed–borne fungal pathogens as well as fungal pathogens that are on the surface of the seed. Many bio-fungicidal products also show capacities to stimulate plant host defenses and other physiological processes that can make treated crops more resistant to a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses.
Advantages of bio-pesticides are a) no harmful residues casing health hazards b) substantially low impact on non-target species c) cheaper than chemical pesticides d) more effective than chemical pesticides in long-term.
Disadvantages includes a) highly Pest specific b) often slow speed of action as biopesticides are usually living organisms, which bring about pest/pathogen control by multiplying within the target insect pest/pathogen
Liza Barua Bharali
SMS,Plant protection
KVK, Phek
