Biological Control Of Insect Pests

by Ninfa M. Rosa-Garcia

Overview

Biological Control of Insect Pests is a book that deals with the most relevant biological control agents and their application to important agriculturally insect pests. A detailed revision of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and predators as control agents is offered through their taxonomic classification, mode of action, activity spectrum, killing abilities, genetics, and suitable application according host range. In addition some particular characteristics of each one of them are highlighted in order to distinguish from those organisms without entomopathogenic properties. It also includes interesting descriptions about important pests in agricultural crops that cause economic losses to producers, and how biological control has offered a successful alternative to control lepidopterans, which are considered the first insect pests attacked by this technology, and coleopterans which are one of the latest insect pests to be controlled as a result of expanded activity spectrum found through scientific research. An important aspect of this book is the inclusion of biotechnological tools in the development of biological control agents. The use of the traditional and modern biotechnology to develop new strategies to control insect pests is presented in a broad sense. From the development of strategies that make use of biodegradable compounds to develop environmentally-friendly bioinsecticides to the application of molecular tools to improve control agents effectiveness against insect pests. Up dated lists of products based on entomopathogenic organisms are also included with briefs explanations of their use and application. Molecular biology techniques used for gene identification, genetic recombination, mutation, formation of truncated or modified proteins known as chimeric proteins, to enhance agents' toxic activity are explained in a scientific but clear manner. The implications and interactions of the biological control application in the environment, posed by the risks of the introduction of exotic enemies, are clearly analyzed to understand how the nets of interactions among organisms impact towards non target insects, flora, fauna, and human beings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626993655
Publisher:	Arts & Science Academic Publishing
Publication date:	06/30/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Ninfa M. Rosas Garcia: Dr. Rosas-Garcia was born in Monterrey, N.L Mexico. She holds a Master of Science degree in microbiology and a Ph.D in biotechnology granted by the Universidad AutonomadeNuevo Leon, Moneterrey, Mexico. She currently serves as director of the Centro de BiotechnologiaGenomica of the Instituto Politecnico Nacional. Up to date she is head professor of the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory at the same Center where she develops the research line of biological control of insects pests of economically important crops. She also directs research on genomics and molecular aspects of pests and their pathogens. Dr.RosasaGarcia is member of the National Researchers System level 1 and has published 20 research papers in International Journals, has written 7 book chapters and has participated in over 45 national and international conferences, She has directed 11 research projects funded by Mexican Institutions and has served as thesis director of 4 undergraduate students, 6 Masters and 1PhD students. In 2002 she received the research award for her doctoral theis by the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. In 2006 and in 2009 she received the award for quality thesis by the Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas among other.