Efficacy of Biopesticides for Organic Management of Cucumber Beetles


Book Description

Organic growers are limited in crop protection techniques for cucumber beetle management. Spotted (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi) and striped (Acalymma vitatta) cucumber beetles are significant pests of cucurbits in the U.S. Feeding results in aesthetic damage and reduction in marketable yields as well as transmission of bacterial wilt that can result in plant mortality. Biopesticides are products formulated from naturally occurring organisms such as fungi and bacteria that are pathogenic or toxic to insect pests. Advantages to these products are that they have low environmental risk, low risk to non-target organisms including mammals and beneficial insects, and can help reduce resistance to pesticides when used in an integrated pest management program. The overall goal of this dissertation was to examine the potential of microbial products to reduce mortality and feeding by cucumber beetles for the benefit of organic producers. Chapter one is a review of the biopesticide industry, biology of microbial agents for insect pest management, the role of biopesticides in sustainable agriculture, and constraints to their use. Chapter two covers the field experiment conducted on Galia melons in 2010 and 2011 using Chromobacterium subtsugae and Beauveria bassiana. Chapter three covers the laboratory assays using Beauveria bassiana and the laboratory and field experiments using Isaria fumosorosea. Chapter four is the final experiment on the effects of these microbial agents on cucumber beetles and squash bugs in organic pumpkin production. The results indicated anti-feedant effects by Chromobacterium subtsugae and Beaveria bassiana in the laboratory assays, but field trial results were inconclusive and did not show a reduction in beetle populations or a yield increase resulting from spray applications of these microbial agents. Complications in the field studies arose from plant pathogens and physiological factors independent from cucumber beetle population and damage. Recommendations are to improve biopesticide efficacy through improving formulation and delivery, by additional screening and testing to determine efficacy on multiple life stages of the pest, and research to increase the understanding of ecological roles and interactions of microbial biopesticides in the environment.










Biopesticides


Book Description

Biopesticides have readily available sources, they are effective and easily biodegradable, exhibit various modes of action, cheaper, inherently less toxic to humans and the environment. They do not leave harmful residues, and are usually more specific to target pests. The use of biopesticides is markedly safer for the environment and users, and more sustainable than the application of chemicals, and are therefore used as potential alternatives to synthetic pesticides, especially as components in Integrated Pest Management strategies. The book Biopesticides: Botanicals and Microorganisms for Improving Agriculture and Human Health is a collection of articles, up to date reviews and research contributions from both developed and developing countries. It emphasises the current issues of importance and the progress made in the fields of agricultural, environmental and soil microbiology, plant pathology and ethnobotany, and aims to bring together all available and relevant information on biopesticides. It comprises 12 Chapters on emerging issues on biopesticides from important and useful botanicals to beneficial microorganisms that show great potential in both agriculture and human health. The book will be of immense help to both the undergraduate and postgraduate students, biologists and agriculturists, who would like to broaden their knowledge and gain substantial experience about biopesticides in agriculture and health, this will enable them to contribute significantly in making the world a safer and healthier place.




Improving the Efficacy of Biopesticides Based on Bt


Book Description

Three features of biopesticides that differentiate them from synthetic pesticides and make them attractive to producers are the following: - (i) biopesticides can be used for resistance management, especially since many have multiple modes of action which would reduce the chance of resistance occurring in a particular crop pest; (ii) many biopesticides have no or low restricted entry intervals, meaning that post-application, restricted entry into fields is very low (0-4 h) and there are often no limitations prior to harvest; and (iii) there are generally exemptions for biopesticides from maximum residue limits because they are considered acceptable and relatively safe. Even though insecticidal formulations based on Bt toxins have been used for many years, it was the development and commercialization of insect-resistant transgenic Bt crops expressing Cry toxins that revolutionized the history of agriculture. Benefits of this technology include high specificity and potency, reduction in chemical pesticide applications, increased crop yield and has the potential to be recommended for pest management in organic farming.




Biopesticides in Organic Farming


Book Description

The book entitled "Biopesticides in Organic Farming : Recent Advances", describes critically reviewed, key aspects of organic farming and provides a unique and timely science-based resource for researchers, teachers, extension workers, students, primary producers and others around the world. This book is intended to be a unique and indispensable resource that offers a diverse range of valuable information and perspectives on biopesticides in organic agriculture. It has chapters on each and every aspect related with biopesticides in organic farming which are compiled by researchers and eminent professors at various universities across the globe. The wide spectrum information in various chapters with the addition of the terms related to organic farming and concept statements is presented in very concise manner. Features: This book is designed, as per course curriculum of different universities offering courses on Organic Farming, for undergraduate and post graduate students, researchers, university professors and extension workers. The first section provides, Overview of organic farming with special reference to biopesticides followed by the Principles of the applications of biopesticides in organic farming, Impact of Environmental factors on biopesticides in organic farming, Pesticides Exposure Impacts on Health and Need of Biopesticides in Organic Farming, and Role of nutrients in the management of crop diseases through biopesticides. The next section deals with the management of various crop diseases through biopesticides of bacterial, fungal, viral, and Insect sex hormone, Natural enemies and Integrated Pest Management, Biotechnological Trends in Insect Pests Control Strategy, Challenges in the popularization of Biopesticides in organic farming, Certification process and standards of organic farming and Marketing and export potential of organic Products. Information presented in an accessible way for students, professors, researchers, business innovators and entrepreneurs, management professionals and practitioners.




Biopesticides


Book Description

Biological controls that utilize natural predation, parasitism or other natural mechanisms, is an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Chemical pesticide methods are becoming less readily available due to increasing resistance problems and the prohibition of some substances. This book addresses the challenges of insufficient information and imperfectly understood regulatory processes in using biopesticides. It takes an interdisciplinary approach providing internationally comparative analyses on the registration of biopesticides and debates future biopesticide practices.




Advances in Plant Biopesticides


Book Description

The ‘Advances in Plant Biopesticides’ comprises 19 chapters on different important issues of developing biopesticides from promising botanicals and its phytomolecules based on the research reviews in the area concern. The book is written by reputed scientists and professors of both developed and developing countries namely Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, India, Kenya, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and USA represented by almost 53 contributors. The book is organized and presented in such a form that the readers can acquire and enhance their knowledge in plant biopesticide bioresources, its application in different areas to manage pests and diseases of field crops, stored products with status of exploring in Africa, non-target effects on beneficial arthropods, control of arthropods of veterinary and vectors of communicable diseases, efficacy in controlling honeybee mite pests, prospect of applying new tools to enhance the efficacy of plant biopesticides through use of nanotechnology, most important plant derived active principle as source of biopesticides, possible mode of action of phytochemicals against arthropods, limitation, production status, consumption, formulation, registration and quality regulation of plant biopesticides and have been cited by important scientific references. Most importantly, the book also highlights a unique example for developing biopesticides based on the research on Annonaceae as potential source of plant biopesticide, exploiting phytochemicals for developing green technology for sustainable crop protection strategies to withstand climate change with example in Africa, and overview in developing insect resistance to plant biopesticides. Most of the chapter contributing authors are internationally reputed researchers and possess experiences of more than three to four decades in the area of plant biopesticides. The contributing and corresponding authors of the book - Advances in Plant Biopesticides proposed and identified by the editor (Dwijendra Singh) include distinguished professors and reputed scientists from different continents of the world namely MB Isman (Canada), Nadia Z Dimetry (Egypt), Zeaur R Khan (Kenya), John A Pickett (UK), Gadi VP Reddy (USA), S Gopalakrishnan (India), Anand Prakash (India), Chirantan Chattopadyay (India), Christos G Athanassiou (Greece), Philip C. Stevenson (UK), S Raguraman (India), S Ghosh (India), Mir S Mulla (USA), Apiwat Tawatsin (Thailand), Dwijendra Singh (India), K Sahayaraj (India), Suresh Walia (India), T Shivanandappa (India), Roman Pavela (Czeck Republic), Errol Hasan (Australia), Ayhan Gokce (Turkey), SK Raza (India), and their colleague co-contributors. This book would certainly provide the updated knowledge to global readers on plant biopesticides as one of the important reference source and would stimulate to present and future researchers, scientists, student, teachers, entrepreneurs, and government & non-government policy makers interested to develop new & novel environmentally safe plant biopesticides world over.







Biopesticides


Book Description

Biopesticide: Volume Two, the latest release in the Advances in Bioinoculant series, provides an updated overview on the active substances utilized in current bioinsecticides, along with information on which of them can be used for integrated pest management programs in agro-ecosystems. The book presents a comprehensive look at the development of novel solutions against new targets, also introducing new technologies that enhance the efficacy of already available active substances. Finally, readers will find insights into the advanced molecular studies on insect microbial community diversity that are opening new frontiers in the development of innovative pest management strategies. This book will be valuable to those prioritizing agro biodiversity management to address optimal productizing and enhanced food security. - Explores the increasing number of newly introduced and improved products that can be used alone or in rotation or combination with conventional chemicals - Promotes the importance of, and tactics for, managing the agro ecosystem surrounding food security - Provides state of the art description of various approaches and techniques for the real-world application of biopesticides