Potential of insect pathogens in the tropics

Hall R.A., . and Payne C.C., . (1986) Potential of insect pathogens in the tropics. [Proceedings Paper]

In North America and Europe the slow shift in emphasis from the use of chemical insecticides to ecologically-based integrated pest management programmes had stimulated research into exploitation of insect pathogens as well as other biotic agents. So far the greatest progress in using pathogens had been made in the following area -forests vegetables and protected crops. Tt present several species of pathogens were mass-produced commercially and formulated to a consistent quality. These were viruses 9 bacteria 2 protozoa 1 and very likely in the near future nematodes. More pathogens were mass-produced along non-commercial lines in several countries but information on the quality and effectiveness of these products was generally lacking and in some cases quality was known to be very variable. Few pathogens were exploited in tropical countries. Possibly meteorological conditions and the germicidal effect of sunlight and insect phenology and overlapping generations in the tropics reduces the chances of success compared to those in temperate zones but in some cases the possibilities of success were enhanced e.g. tropical humidity would favour fungi. Probably the main limitation on the use of pathogens was that little research in this area had been undertaken so far in the tropics. Effort should be made to train personnel in techniques of pathogen identification isolation manipulation production and use. The methodologies were usually not difficult and adapted to meet the needs of agriculture in most situations. Commercial exploitation of pathogens was not always relevant and production at a local level is the only feasible option. This aspect raised problems concerning the purity and therefore safety and efficacy of microbial insecticides. With these caveats in mind this paper attempts to assess realistically the prospects of using pathogens in the tropics

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Abstract

In North America and Europe the slow shift in emphasis from the use of chemical insecticides to ecologically-based integrated pest management programmes had stimulated research into exploitation of insect pathogens as well as other biotic agents. So far the greatest progress in using pathogens had been made in the following area -forests vegetables and protected crops. Tt present several species of pathogens were mass-produced commercially and formulated to a consistent quality. These were viruses 9 bacteria 2 protozoa 1 and very likely in the near future nematodes. More pathogens were mass-produced along non-commercial lines in several countries but information on the quality and effectiveness of these products was generally lacking and in some cases quality was known to be very variable. Few pathogens were exploited in tropical countries. Possibly meteorological conditions and the germicidal effect of sunlight and insect phenology and overlapping generations in the tropics reduces the chances of success compared to those in temperate zones but in some cases the possibilities of success were enhanced e.g. tropical humidity would favour fungi. Probably the main limitation on the use of pathogens was that little research in this area had been undertaken so far in the tropics. Effort should be made to train personnel in techniques of pathogen identification isolation manipulation production and use. The methodologies were usually not difficult and adapted to meet the needs of agriculture in most situations. Commercial exploitation of pathogens was not always relevant and production at a local level is the only feasible option. This aspect raised problems concerning the purity and therefore safety and efficacy of microbial insecticides. With these caveats in mind this paper attempts to assess realistically the prospects of using pathogens in the tropics

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	12 ref. Summary En
AGROVOC Term:	ORGANISMOS PATOGENOS
AGROVOC Term:	INSECTOS DANINOS
AGROVOC Term:	CONTROL BIOLOGICO
AGROVOC Term:	TROPICOS
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:25
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13999

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