Microbes as Biocontrol agents

Microbes as Biocontrol agents

• Term Biocontrol refers to the maintenance of the population of insects and pests by the introduction of their predator and without using any chemicals.

• This Article demonstrates the use of Microbes as Biocontrol agents.

Impact of insecticides, Pesticides on environment.

• Generally, insecticides and pesticides are used to control the pathogen, insect and pest etc. But these chemicals are toxic and never degraded by our decomposer. 

• These chemicals remain present as such in soil and water and affect the biotic component.

Read about the use of microbes in Household

• These chemicals also cause different types of pollution.To overcome this problem, methods of biological control are used in present days

Microbes used as Biocontrol agents . 

• Various kinds of microbes like viruses , bacteria, fungi, mycoplasma etc are used as biocontrol agents in the field of agriculture. 

Bacteria used as Biocontrol agents .

• In agriculture , Gypsy moths, budworms, and bollworms are controlled by viruses. 

• Similarly bacteria are also used as Biocontrol agents  against the various pests and insects therefore they are known biocides. 

• A bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is capable against insects and pests. This bacteria is used in controlling caterpillars of butterflies.

• These bacteria are stored as dried spores and mix with the water to spray on plants. 

• When they feed by the insect , they release a toxin in the gut of the insect, As a result the insect dies.

Read more about the use of microbes as Biofertilizer

• Agrobacterium radiobacter is used to control the agent that is responsible for crown gall disease in Stone fruits.

•  In cotton plants, Damping off of seedlings is controlled by the bacteria Pseudomonas.

Fungi used as Biocontrol agents .

• Several fungi are also used as biocontrol agents to control the pest in the field of Cereals ,fruit and vegetables.

• The Trichoderma species of Fungi is regarded as a powerful biocontrol agent  against several plant pathogens.

• Trichoderma commonly present in root system of plant and provide strong resistance against the plant Pathogens.

• A genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus  under the category of Baculoviruses is used as a biocontrol agent against the various insects and arthropods.

• They have no any negative impact on plants, mammals ,birds andfish.

• Baculoviruses are neutral for beneficial insect that are conserved under the programme of Integrated pest management.

• Microbes are also used in herbicides to control the weed in the field. Colletotrichum is a commonly used herbicide.