Applications and Patents of Bacillus spp. in Agriculture

Abstract

Biological control using biopesticides has been an environmentally friendly solution in recent years. Bacillus spp. was discovered as a soil bacterium, which has been used as a biopesticide in agriculture, forestry, and mosquito control. Specifically, B. thuringiensis has been widely applied in the control of crops insect pests due to insecticidal proteins produced by the bacterium during sporulation. To fight against the phytopathogens, Bacillus spp. bacteria produce secondary metabolites which have several biological activities that make it possible that bacterium can survive in the natural environment. These developments have amplified the target range of Bacillus spp. in special B. thuringiensis, for better understanding its role in soil ecosystem.