Bacterial bioagents for insect pest management

Abstract

Biological control of crop pests and diseases has found to play significant role in reducing the over reliance on chemical pesticides. The control of pests by entomopathogenic and plant associated bacteria is an alternative that may contribute to reduce or eliminate the pesticide use. Entomopathogenic bacteria which cause diseases in insects kill the host by septicaemia and toxin production. Plant associated bacteria such as rhizospheric, endophytic and phylloplane bacteria are involved in biocontrol by the production of certain defensive chemicals leading to the induction of systemic resistance.