Role of bio-pesticides in recent trends of insect pest management: A review

Abstract

Agricultural crops has had to face the destructive activities of numerous pests like fungi, weeds and insects from time immemorial, leading to radical decrease in yields. For the control of these pests chemicals are highly effective because only they act on a broad host range but their is also a negative impact on the environment and the overall sustainability of the farming systems. Use of synthetic pesticides has severely affected both the abiotic and biotic components of the environment. Managing agricultural production systems on a sustainable basis is one of the most critical challenges for the future of humanity as the world population is increasing exceptionally. Biopesticides is a potential tool considered to be the best alternative to synthetic pesticides that are highly effective, target specific and reduce environmental risks. Biopesticides are derived from animals, plants and other natural materials such as fungi, bacteria, algae, viruses, nematodes and protozoa. The advance research and development in the field of biopesticides applications greatly mitigate environmental pollution. The development of biopesticides stimulates modernization of agriculture and will, without doubt, gradually replace chemical pesticides. The current status and advancement of biopesticides focusing mainly on improving action spectra, replacing of chemical pesticides, its role in integrated pest management, use of botanical and semiochemical in pest management have been discussed in this review.