Microbial Pesticides

Biological Resources, Production and Application

Vladimir V. Gouli,Jose A.P. Marcelino,Svetlana Y. Gouli

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9780128244524
• Topic: Ciencias biológicas
• Subtopic: Microbiología

Microbial Pesticides: Biological Resources, Production and Application provides a concise and accessible introduction on the history of microbial pesticides, their impact on global ecology, human society and economies, as well as a thorough and tangible description of the state-of-the-art technologies available for the production, application, limitations and long–term viability of these bio-products. Information is listed per biological group (i.e., virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microsporidia and microbial metabolites), and is supported by sound scientific data. The book is copiously illustrated, with original pictures clarifying the most common techniques and protocols utilized in microbiological biocontrol technology.

Finally, images of all biological active ingredients currently used in commercially produced formulations, as well as laboratory developed formulations, are illustrated and listed in detailed tables for prompt access.

• Provides a concise and accessible introduction to the history of microbial pesticides and their impact on global ecology, human society and economies
• Offers a thorough and tangible description of state-of-the-art technologies surrounding the production, application, limitations and long-term viability of bio-products
• Reports current regulatory measures and protocols used to assess host range and collateral impact(s) of microbial formulations based on virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microsporidia and microbial metabolites
• Features lists by biological group (i.e., virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microsporidia and microbial metabolites)
• Links sound scientific data and concise, accessible language

Chapter 1: The basic biological resources for the production of microbial pesticides

Abstract

The chapter contains concise up-to-date information about current practical and potential use of all types of microorganisms with interest for regulating populations of harmful organisms toward humans, agricultural pests, and pathogens. These include viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and microbial metabolites. Original photographs of all the main groups of microorganisms are presented using light and electron microscopy. Information related to the practical use of microorganisms and their metabolic products in all spheres of human activity is compiled in detailed tables. Promising microbes to be used in microbiological biocontrol strategies are also listed.

Keywords

Viruses; Bacteriophages; Bacteria; Fungi; Protozoa; Pest control, humans, and agriculture

Beneficial microorganisms with potential as biocontrol agents of pests and pathogens are practically inexhaustible. Parasitism is widespread in nature and it is virtually impossible to find a biological population free of pathogens. Our knowledge about infection pathology is usually connected with direct and/or indirect impacts in human societies. As an example, profuse information on infection diseases of honey bees, silkworms, and many noxious insects with importance as agricultural pests is constantly being updated. Knowledge on the biology of these organisms has economic impacts on ecosystem stability and food security, and concomitantly, human societies. All these insects are hosts of numerous species of viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and microhelminths. Other less known species of hymenopterans, lepidopterans, or other groups of insects, are not the subject of thorough analyses to determine if they are hosts of microorganisms potentially dangerous to animals and plants. Modern developments in the fields of microbiology, genetic engineering, and other scientific fields, suggest that problems related to the regulation of the number of harmful organisms can be solved through the use of beneficial viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa presenting strong antagonistic effects on detrimental organisms for humans, other animals, and the preservation of food items. Novel directions in microbiological research are connected not only with the direct application of microbial pathogens but also with other features of these microorganisms, such as the production of microbial metabolites with selective toxicity toward harmful noxious species, affecting their development and behavior. Beneficial microorganisms for the application in pest control strategies are practically unlimited; hence, microbial pest control is based on practically all microorganism groups. Identification and classification of microorganisms is currently being reassessed in parallel with advances in genetics, e.g., DNA profiling, whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The development of molecular biology has significantly affected former classifications of all living organism, from viruses to higher warm-blooded animals. Host specificity of a given parasitic microorganism plays an increasingly minor role in determining its place in the classification system of a group of organisms. Nevertheless, the traditional clustering of a large group of pathogenic microorganisms according to their host specificity continues to have significance in applied research programs aiming to develop biocontrol strategies based on these microorganisms.

1.1: Viruses

1.1.1: Viruses of bacteria

Viruses are typical intracellular parasites infecting all living organisms including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, plants, invertebrate, and vertebrate animals. These microorganisms are important regulatory agents for many pests. Classification of viruses is constantly being reassessed. The International Committee of Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has established seven Orders of viruses. These are Caudovirales, Herpesvirales, Ligamenvirales, Mononegavirales, Nidovirales, Picornavirales, and Tymovirales. Most known viruses have not yet received a definitive place in the general taxonomical classification system based primarily on the structure of nucleic acids, as well as morphological and biological characteristics of the virion. The traditional grouping of ...