Soil Microbes as Bio pesticides: Agricultural Applications and Environments

Abstract

Bio pesticides, including entomopathogenic viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes , and plant secondary metabolites, are gaining increasing importance as they are alternatives to chemical pesticides and are a major component of many pest control programs. The virulence of various bio pesticides such as nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), bacteria, and plant product were tested under laboratory conditions very successfully and the selected ones were also evaluated under fi eld conditions with major success. Bio pesticide products (including benefi cial insects) are now available commercially for the control of pest and diseases. The overall aim of bio pesticide research is to make these bio pesticide products available at farm level at an affordable price, and this would become a possible tool in the integrated pest management strategy. Moreover, bio pesticide research is still going on and further research is needed in many aspects including bio formulation and areas such as commercialization. There has been a substantial renewal of commercial interest in bio pesticides as demonstrated by the considerable number of agreements between pesticide companies and bio product companies which allow the development of effective bio pesticides in the market. Crops damage due to pests and diseases are always encountered by farmers. It can be significant constraints to production influencing human life and the environment. Mostly plant protection methods recently use synthetic pesticides, that are toxic chemicals noxious the environment. Because of the hazardous effect, one of environmentally friendly methods is developed to protect plant from plant pathogens, that is, the use of biological control or referred to as biopesticides. Biopesticides encompass a broad array of microbial pesticides, biochemicals derived from microorganisms and other natural sources, and processes involving the genetic incorporation of DNA into agricultural commodities. Bio pesticides have benefits and limitations effect for the environment, human life, or agricultural products. The media is biodegradable material. Beside the microbial content, carrier media for formulating bio pesticide were consisted of several organic materials, such as animal broth, organic materials, or organic waste product. Biopesticides supported stability and sustainability of agro ecosystem because they did not affect negatively on environment It also can increase the farmers' income, through the high price of their yield organic products.