Biological control of diseases and insects
- Defined as the reduction in attack of a crop species by a pathogen achieved using another living organism or organisms, including the host plant resistance as a natural and highly effective, form of biological control.
- Concept of direct or indirect effects.
- Direct effects by introduced antagonists.
- Indirect by the manipulation of existing population to reduce disease as agronomic practices like soil amendment with organic matter to boost microbial population.
Principles of biological control
- The biological control agents are crop defendants and beneficial insect friendly.
- Furthermore, it also boosts the hyper parasitism of the BCA.
- Biological control also aims to deliberate introduction and establishment of natural enemies in areas they did not previously occur (largely used against the pests of foreign origin).
Way of bio-control
- Collection and use of biotic agents, viz.; parasitoids and predators.
- Isolation and non-production of antagonizing microbial organisms including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses etc., that are known as microbial pesticides. Using plant-based materials that are known as botanical pesticides.
- It can be done by
- Importation
- Conservation
- Augmentation (inoculative release)