Abstract
Baculoviruses are known to regulate many insect populations in nature. Their host-specificity is very high, usually restricted to a single or a few closely related insect species. They are amongst the safest pesticides, with no or negligible effects on non-target organisms, including beneficial insects, vertebrates and plants. Baculovirus-based pesticides are compatible with integrated pest management strategies and the expansion of their application will significantly reduce the risks associated with the use of synthetic chemical insecticides. Several successful baculovirus-based pest control programs have taken place in Latin American countries. Sustainable agriculture (a trend promoted by state authorities in most Latin American countries) will benefit from the wider use of registered viral pesticides and new viral products that are in the process of registration and others in the applied research pipeline. The success of baculovirus-based control programs depends upon collaborative efforts among government and research institutions, growers associations, and private companies, which realize the importance of using strategies that protect human health and the environment at large. Initiatives to develop new regulations that promote the use of this type of ecological alternatives tailored to different local conditions and farming systems are underway.
Highlights
Among the insect viruses found in nature, those belonging to the baculovirus family (Baculoviridae) were considered for the development of most commercial viral biopesticides [7,8,9,10]
When the light protective activity of two optical brighteners (Tinopal CBS and Tinopal C1101) was evaluated, the results indicated Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) occlusion body (OB) retained its biological activity against S. frugiperda larvae after 240 min of exposure to UV light [193]
The concern of some governments and the public about the effects caused by chemical pesticides generated support for the development of integrated pest management (IPM)
Summary
Many countries have become stricter in the regulation of pesticide manufacture, registration, and use. The behavior of the pests themselves demanded a change in control strategies as resistance to insecticides has become a frequent phenomenon [1,2,3]. These practices require a combined strategy known as integrated pest management (IPM), aiming at a significant reduction or elimination of chemical pesticides. A major contribution to this type of strategies is the use of biological control methods, including natural enemies and pathogens specific for the insect pests. Nematodes, bacteria, and viruses can effectively control pests when applied artificially as insecticides [5,6]
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