Advances in biocontrol of crop insect pests

Description

As a result of increasing consumer and regulatory concern about the environmental impact of synthetic pesticide use, the biocontrol sector has rapidly expanded and continues to diversify in its product offering, with a suggested estimate of over 1700 different biocontrol products now available on the market.

Advances in biocontrol of crop insect pests provides a detailed overview of some of the key developments in this area, including the techniques used to disrupt insect pest behaviour, such as the use of semiochemicals and genetic engineering. The book also reviews recent advances in understanding plant defences against insect pest attacks and how these defences can be improved to limit crop damage and yield.

Through its exploration of the recent advances in the biocontrol sector, the book highlights the potential of novel biocontrol agents to reduce agriculture’s environmental impact, whilst also considering the key formulation issues and regulatory challenges that may arise during the product development stage.

Table of contents

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Part 1 Understanding and disrupting insect pests

• 1.Understanding the use of vision and olfaction by thrips and other small flying insects to enhance biological control: D.A.J. Teulon and M-C. Nielsen, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, New Zealand; K. Lopez–Reyes, Lund University, Sweden; R. Meyhöfer, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany; and R.W.H.M. Van Tol, BugResearch Consultancy, The Netherlands;
• 2.Genetic engineering of insects to inhibit insect pest reproduction: Alexis L. Kriete, Sarah E. Hudadoff, Ariel E. Tarrand, Amarish K. Yadav and Maxwell J. Scott, North Carolina State University, USA;
• 3.Developing plant-based insect biocontrol agents: Daniel Tapia Garcia, María Fé Andrés and Azucena Gonzalez Coloma, Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain;
• 4.Developments in peptide-based biocontrol agents to manage insect pests: Yousef M. Abul-Haija, Lewis J. Archibald, Alexander J. Finney, Hugh A. Nicholson, Julian A. T. Dow, and Shireen-Anne Davies, SOLASTA Bio Ltd., UK;
• 5.Using gene silencing (RNA interference) techniques to produce safe insecticidal compounds: Salvatore Arpaia, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Italy;
• 6.Exploiting plant phenotypic plasticity in promoting crop resistance to insect pests: Michael J. Stout, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, USA; Lina Bernaola, Texas A&M University AgriLife Research Center, USA; James M. Villegas, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, USA; and Emily C. Kraus, University of California - Agriculture and Natural Resources, USA;

Part 2 Improving biocontrol product development and use

• 7.Key issues in formulation of biocontrol agents for plant protection: Linda C. Muskat, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Germany;
• 8.Challenges in commercialising microbial-based biopesticides for controlling insect pests: Travis R. Glare, Lincoln University, New Zealand;
• 9.Developments in application technologies for biocontrol agents for insect pest control: Claudia Preininger and Viktoria Stagl, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria;
• 10.Challenges in risk assessment of biopesticides for insect pests: Shannon Borges and Mike Mendelsohn, Office of Pesticide Programs – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USA;