Prospects and progress for Bacillus thuringiensis-based pesticides
1993
Cannon, R.J.C.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based insecticide products constitute the overwhelming majority of biopesticides but, despite having been commercially available for over 30 years, they have made little impact (< 1 %) on the crop-protection market as a whole. This has been largely due to poor cost-performance factors relative to synthetic organic pesticides. However, recent biotechnological advances-including genetic modification-combined with a variety of emerging opportunities, have created the prospect of the commercialisation of a new range of highly effective Bt-based biopesticides. Bioencapsulation of single-gene products-delta-endotoxins from selected Bt isolates-in killed Pseudomonad cells (Mycogen Corporation's 'CellCap'(R) technology), offers a flexible delivery system with enhanced persistence. This versatile approach selects only the most appropriate biotoxins, which can be used to target a number of pest species. It is anticipated that Bt-based pesticides will continue to fill an increasing number of gaps in the panoply of synthetic crop-protection chemicals. Genetically modified products offer advantages in terms of efficacy, flexibility and safety but public concerns regarding perceived risks need to be addressed.
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