Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Chemical pest control agents, though extensively used in all countries of the world, have been widely regarded as ecologically unacceptable. Therefore, there is the increased social pressure to replace them gradually with biopesticides which are safe to humans and non-target organisms. Viruses of a few families infect invertebrates but only those belonging to the family Baculoviridae have been used as biopesticides because they are safe to wildlife and their specificity is very narrow. Until recently, the application as bioinsectides was limited because of their slow killing action and technical problems for in vitro commercial production. However, successful protection of large area of soybean fields in Brazil revived the interest in baculoviruses as effective agents for biocontrol and the wider application for pest control is very likely to occur in future. To improve baculovirus killing properties, two approaches can be foreseen: i) in countries where use of genetically modified organisms is restricted, changes in biopesticide formulations and the improvements of the in vitro production are to be expected, ii) in countries with more relaxed attitude towards genetically modified organisms, the killing activity of baculoviruses will be improved by genetic modifications of the baculovirus genome.
Source: Journal of Biopesticides
Authors: Boguslaw Szewczyk, Lukasz Rabalski, Ewelina Krol, William Sihler, Embrapa Recursos Geneticos e Biotecnologia, Parque Estacao Biologica, 70770-900 Brasilia, Brazil,, Marlinda Lobo de Souza, Embrapa Recursos Geneticos e Biotecnologia, Parque Estacao Biologica, 70770-900 Brasilia, Brazil,
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2189185502