how are insects used as biocontrol agents

This highlights a very important feature of biopesticides: they are specific to a well-defined range of target species.

Several different types of crystal proteins are produced by different strains of bacterium, each protein having a specific and ordinarily narrow insect host range. Several membranes of gut epithelium cells this binding ultimately causes insect death. The toxin fragment binds to highly ultimately causes insect death. The crystal protein is a protoxin which is processed into a toxin by the proteases present in insect mid-gut. The technology for production and application of biopesticides has been developed in India, and a Bacillus thuringinesis based insecticide is being commercially produced.īacillus thuringinesis is a spore forming bacterium, which produces a crystal protein as parasporic inclusion in the vegetative cell containing the spore. Although a large number of micro-organisms attack insects, only a limited number of them have been found commercial application. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and mites are employed to control a variety of insects attacking both plants and animals. Micro-organisms used for insect control are often called Bioinsecticides, while the term biopesticides is used for all biocontrol agents. Biocontrol agents have been used to control mostly insect pests, and occasionally for weed and disease control. Micro-organisms used for biocontrol are bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa some of them are being used at commercial scales. So, the correct answer is 'Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion'.Use of micro-organisms to control insect pests, pathogens or weeds constitutes biological control, and the biological agents employed are called biocontrol agents.These viruses are excellent species-specific, biocontrol agents and have narrow spectrum insecticidal application. The majority of baculoviruses used as biological control agents are in the genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus. Baculoviruses are pathogens that attack insects and other arthropods.

It has been used successfully against pathogenic fungi belonging to various genera, viz.

Trichoderma is a potent biocontrol agent and used extensively for soil born diseases.It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. The organism which is used for biocontrol is called as biocontrol agents. Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases using other organisms.

How are insects used as biocontrol agents