BIOINSECTICIDES AS FUTURE MAINSTREAM PEST CONTROL AGENTS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

<List> <ListItem><ItemContent> •Wide use of botanical insecticides is limited by the availability of certain plants. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> •Studies are needed to improve RNAi efficiency and to assess their safety risk. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> •Microbial insecticides are promising, but they only control a narrow range of pests. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> •Multitarget approach should be a promising strategy in future pest control. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> •Nanoformulation could enhance stability and control the release of bioinsecticides. </ItemContent></ListItem></List> Bioinsecticides are naturally-occurring substances from different sources that control insect pests. Ideal bioinsecticides should have low toxicity to non-target organisms. They should also be easily degraded in sewage treatment works and natural environments, highly effective in small quantities and affect target pests only. Public concerns about possible side-effects of synthetic pesticides have accelerated bioinsecticide research and development. However, to develop bioinsecticides into mainstream products, their high production costs, short shelf-life and often uncertain modes of action need to be considered. This review summarizes current progress on bioinsecticides which are categorized as biochemical insecticides and their derivatives, plant-incorporated protectants, and microbial bioinsecticides. The current constraints that prevent bioinsecticides from being widely used are discussed and future research directions are proposed.