Advances in microbial control in IPM: entomopathogenic viruses

Description

Although there are several families of viruses known to include insect pathogens, only a handful are recognised to have species with any potential of being biopesticides. The majority of these are baculoviruses and are an ideal component of an integrated pest management (IPM) programme, as they are highly target pest-specific, have no detrimental side effects, are user-friendly, are often as effective as the chemical alternatives, are compatible with most pesticides and technologies, and they leave no detectable residues. However, there are certain challenges associated with their usage, such as slow speed of kill, a narrow host range, limited shelf life, high cost and the possibility of resistance development – the solutions to which are discussed in this chapter. Three baculovirus biopesticide case studies are provided elucidating the practical benefits and challenges of using baculoviruses in IPM systems. The chapter concludes that the usage of insect viruses in IPM is set to grow in the future.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 A brief global review of commercialised registered baculoviruses 3 Entomopathogenic viruses in IPM systems 4 Usage of baculoviruses: challenges and solutions 5 Baculovirus biopesticide case studies 6 Current and future trends 7 Conclusion 8 Where to look for further information 9 References