Advances in Biological Control Strategies for Sustainable Pest Management

Abstract

Biological control using natural enemies offers environmentally safe and sustainable options for managing insect pests and plant pathogens in agriculture. Recent technological advances have led to promising innovations in mass production, formulation and application of biological control agents (BCAs) including parasitoids, predators, microbial antagonists and semiochemicals. Genomic tools have enabled better understanding of mechanisms of antagonism, host-pathogen interactions and molecular signaling guiding greater efficacy. Nanoparticle based delivery systems, RNA interference (RNAi) technology, synthetic symbionts, endophytes, insect gut microbiome manipulations and transgenic resistance offer tremendous scope for devising novel biological control tactics. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) models using ecologically based approaches and adoption of high-tech tools coupled with predictive algorithms can further harness the biocontrol potential providing effective and durable pest management solutions.