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Indian Journal of Biotechnology (IJBT) >
IJBT Vol.02 [2003] >
IJBT Vol.02(3) [July 2003] >
| Title: | Advances in Pest Control: The Role of Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Authors: | Prabagaran, S R
Rupesh, K R
Nimal, S J
Rani, S Sudha
Jayachandran, S |
| Keywords: | Bacillus thuringiensis
Cry genes
 -endotoxins
Insect resistance
Formulations
Transgenics |
| Issue Date: | Jul-2003 |
| Publisher: | NISCAIR-CSIR, India |
| Abstract: | Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt), a popularly known biopesticide, has widest scope in
skirmishing diverse species of insects. Numerous reports have appeared on the
ecology and distribution of Bt around the world. Characterizing Bt strains
based on cry gene contents envisages more on its application potential.
In the recent past, organizing the cry
gene nomenclature based on protein/nucleotide sequence
has overcome many ambiguities that persisted for long. This initiative of the
decade has paved way to face the challenges of new additions in cry genes
and assigning its phylogenetic position. In vitro evidences on insect
mortality are most often not reproducible under field conditions. Therefore,
numerous formulations have been developed by various entrepreneurs to combat
insect pest menace. In malevolence of all advantages, development of resistance
is the greatest threat to Bt indnstry and environmentalists as well. Though
several alternative methods are practiced, it needs enormous effort to really
understand the mode of development of resistance and to combat it accordingly.
In agrarian and health sector, development of transgenic organisms is the
recent trendsetter deserving attention. However, there is a cause for concern
in advocating transgenics since the long-term effects of transgenics on the
living organisms is not well understood. After weighing the advantages and disadvantages of application of Bt in the
environment, it could be concluded that Bt definitely offers best scope in
being biodegradable, non-toxic, target specific and most importantly renewable
compared to chemical insecticides for the control of insect-pests. |
| Page(s): | 302-321 |
| CC License: |  CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India |
| ISSN: | 0975-0967 (Online); 0972-5849 (Print) |
| Source: | IJBT Vol.02(3) [July 2003]
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