Mass production of Bacillus thuringiensis and Nomuraea rileyi

Abstract

NWith the ever-increasing awareness of the harmful effects of the chemical on man and his environment, the immediate need for sustainable, eco-friendly pest management has been felt very strongly providing an impetus to research and development of microbial pesticides. The approach to pest management has seen a significant change over the years from chemical control to integrated pest management with emphasis currently on Bio-intensive integrated pest management. The shift in this paradigm is the outcome of the search for eco-friendly pest management strategies driven by the impact of the ill effects of injudicious use of chemical pesticides on human health and environment. Among the different microbial agents developed and tested, bacteria, viruses and fungi are considered promising for the control of insect pests. Mass production of the promising entomopathogens holds the key for promoting their large scale field use for insect pest management. Mass production of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and the entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi are discussed .