microbes as biocontrol agents?
Answers
Explanation:
Bacteria, fungi and viruses can all act asbiocontrol agents due to the large diversity of target species and the variety of methods of action. Important examples of microbial biocontrol agentsinclude Bacillus thuringiensis, fluorescent pseudomonads and Beauveria bassiana
Answer:
Ladybird and dragonflies are two common insects which are employed to eradicate aphids and mosquitoes respectively. Other than insects, microbes are also used as biocontrol agents. These microbes include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans. Microbes act as biocontrol agents in three ways, either they cause diseases in the pests or compete with them or kill them.
Biotechnology has extended widely and has developed many biocontrol agents. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis which is often referred to as Bt is a microbial biocontrol agent. Spraying the solution of Bt made of spores on plants will kill the butterfly caterpillars. The spores that are ingested release toxins in the guts of the larvae and kill them.
Biotechnology has developed disease-resistant and pest-resistant plants by injecting the toxic genes of B. thuringiensis into plants. For e.g. Bt cotton. Fungus-like Trichoderma and baculoviruses of genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus are some other microbial biocontrol agents. These agents are specific in nature; this along with the cost limits their use.