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Designing microorganisms for insect control
Author(s) -
Lüthy Peter,
Arif Basil M.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.950020107
Subject(s) - microorganism , insect , biology , biological pest control , entomopathogenic fungi , microbiology and biotechnology , insect pest , ecology , bacteria , genetics , agronomy
Microorganisms belong to the main regulators of insect populations under natural conditions. They perform this function in several ways. In the first place, bacterial metabolites exist which are as potent as chemical insecticides. In the second, entomopathogenic fungi and viruses spread deadly infections among insect populations. The use of advanced techniques in molecular biology, genetic engineering and biotechnology is increasingly expanding the potential of microorganisms as agents of insect pest control.