2. 9. Biological control

2. 9. Biological control

    • Management of pests and disease causing agents utilizing, parasitoids, predators and microbial agents like viruses, bacteria and fungi is termed as biological control. It is an important component of IPM.
    • The three important approaches in biological control are
    a. Importation: Importation is also called classical method of biological control where bio-control agents are imported to control a pests of exotic origin.
    b. Conservation: This is a method of manipulating the environment to protect the bio-control agents
    c. Augmentation: Augmentation aims at mass production of natural enemies / microbial agents and field release. Genetic improvement of bio-control agents to have superior traits also comes under this category.
    • The ICAR and State Agricultural Universities play an important role in identifying potential bio-control agents. The commercial bio-control laboratories mass produce the agents and distribute among the farmers. There are at least 20 bio-pesticides production laboratories in Tamil Nadu managed by co-operative and private sectors. The following are the bio-control agents mass produced in Tamil Nadu.
    Table 10. Bio-control agents commercially produced in Tamil Nadu
    Sl. No. Biocontrol agents Pests managed
      I. Parasitoids  
      Egg parasitoids  
    1. Trichogramma sp. Borers, bollworms
    2 Telenomus remus Spodoptera litura
      Egg larval parasitoid  
    3 Chelonus blackburni Cotton bollworms
      Larval parasitoids  
    4. Bracon brevicornis Coconut black headed caterpillar
    5. Goniozus nephantidis Coconut black headed caterpillar
    6. Elamus nephantidis Coconut black headed caterpillar
    7. Bracon kirkpatrici Cotton bollworms
    8. B.hebetor Cotton bollworms
      Pupal parasitoids  
    9 Brachymeria spp. Coconut black headed caterpillar
    10 Tetrastychus Israeli Coconut black headed caterpillar
    11. Trichospilus pupivora Coconut black headed caterpillar
      II. Predators  
    12. Chrysoperla carnea (Green lacewing) Soft bodied homopteran insects
      Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Australian lady bird beetle) Mealy bugs
      III Insect Pathogens  
    13. NPV of Helicoverpa armigera (Virus) H. armigera
    14. NPV of S.litura (Virus) S.litura
    15. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacteria) Lepidopteran insects
    16. Beauveria bassiana (Fungus) Many insect pests
      IV. Fungal Antagonists  
    17. Trichoderma viride Root rot and wilt causing fungi (Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium sp.) in pulses, cotton, oilseeds, vegetables
    18. Trichoderma harzianum
    19. Pseudomonas fluorescence Root rot causing fungi in various crops
      V. Weed killers  
    20. Neochetina bruchi and
    Neochetina eichhornae (beetles)     		Water hyacinth (Aquatic weed)
    21. Zygogramma bicolorata (beetle) Parthenium weed

    • Even though many commercial bio-control laboratories are involved in production of these agents, they are hardly sufficient to cover less than one percent of the total cultivated area. Hence there is a vast scope for improvement.
    Table 11. Crop wise pest management practices using bio-agents/ botanicals

    Sl. No. Crop Pest Bio-agent
    1. Rice Stem borer Trichogramma japonicum
    5 cc/ha/release on 30 and 37 DAT
    2.
    		Leaf folder T.chilonis 5 cc/ha/release on 58, 65 and 72 DAT
    Neem seed kernel extract 5% spray
    3.
    		Gall midge Platygaster oryzae 1 parasitised gall/ 10 m2


    		Earhead bug Neem seed kernel powder, Notchi leaf powder, Prosopis leaf powder
    4. Sorghum H. armigera HaNPV spray at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
    5. Pulses H. armigera HaNPV spray at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
    NSKE 5% spray
    Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki     1.5 l/ha
    6. Groundnut S. litura SlNPV spray at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
    7
    		Red hairy caterpillar AaNPV spray at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
    8. Gingelly Shoot webber NSKE 5% spray
    9. Coconut Rhinoceros beetle Metarhizium anisopliae fungus incorporated in manure pits
    Oryctes baculovirus     infected adults may be released
    Neem seed kernel powder + sand (1:1) in the base of three inner most leaves
    10.
    		Black headed caterpillar Release of Goniozus nephantidis 3000 adults/ ha under the coconut tree
    Release braconid, bethylid, eulophid and ichneumonid parasitoids from January.
    11.
    		Termites Neem oil 5% spray upto 2m height of trunk
    12
    		Mealybugs Neem oil 3% spray on leaves
    13. Cotton S. litura SlNPV spray at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
    14.
    		H.armigera HaNPV spray at 3.0 x 1012 POB/ha at 7 and 12th week after sowing
    Trichogramma     spp. egg parasitoid @ 6.25 cc/ha thrice at 15 days interval from 45 DAS
    Chelonus blackburnii     (egg larval parasitoid) and Chrysoperla (predator) @ 1,00,000 /ha at 6,13 and 14th week after sowing
    15. Sugarcane Early shoot borer Release 125 gravid female of Sturmiopsis inferens
    Granulosis virus on 25 and 50 DAP 1.1 x 105 IBS/ml
    16.
    		Internode borer T. chilonis egg parasitoid 2.5 cc/release, 6 releases at fortnightly interval from 4th month
    17 Tobacco S. litura SlNPV spray at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
    NSKE 5% spray
    18. Citrus Leafminer NSKE 5% spray
    19. Grapes Mealybug Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (beetles) 10 per vine
    Fish oil insecticidal soap 25g/lit
    20. Sapota Budworm NSKE 5% spray
    21. Tomato S.litura and H. armigera (Fruit borers) SlNPV and HaNPV at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
    B.t. 2 g/lit
    T. chilonis 50000/ha/release
    22. Brinjal Shoot and fruit borer NSKE 5% spray


    		Aphids Chrysoperla carnea Ist instar larva 10,000 /ha
    23 Bhendi Fruitborer Trichogramma 1,00,000 /ha
    Chrysoperla carnea     Ist instar larva 10,000 /ha
    B.t. 2 g/lit
    24. Chillies S.litura and H. armigera (Fruit borers) SlNPV and HaNPV at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
    B.t. 2 g/lit
    T. chilonis     50000/ha/release
    25. Cabbage,
    Cauliflower     		Diamond back moth B.t. 2 g/lit, NSKE 5%
    Diadegma semiclausum     (parasitoid) 50,000/ha

Last modified: Friday, 24 February 2012, 4:14 PM