Proceedings

Augmentative Biocontrol

The proceedings* have been published of a workshop held in June 2000 at the Project Directorate of Biological Control (PDBC) in Bangalore, India to discuss actual and potential uses of augmentative biocontrol and the factors that constrain its use and adoption. The publication gives the latest information on feasible augmentative biocontrol practices for the management of some major crop pests, and addresses issues such as quality control, regulation and registration, and commercial production of natural enemies.

In the opening dedication, Jeff Waage discusses past and future use of augmentative biocontrol in IPM systems. Chapter 1, Augmentative biocontrol in India (S. P. Singh), examines the feasibility of selection, development of superior strains, mass production, safety require-ments, quality control, storage, shipment/transport, marketing, release/application of augmentative agents, and evaluation of important natural enemies or biotic agents in India. Chapter 2, Predators and parasitoids in augmentative biological control - an overview (S. T. Murphy), discusses the genesis of the use of these agents. Hundreds of commercial companies worldwide produce more than 20 species of natural enemies for the control of many pest species in covered cropping situations alone. Augmentative biological control has also been used extensively in the USA and in centrally planned economies (e.g. Cuba, China). This chapter also provides a review of the history and current state of the subject on a global basis, some technical and socioeconomic issues that have been prominent in recent years, and some processes relating to the development of standards and harmon-ization and their implementation. Chapter 3, Microbial biopesticides in augmentative biocontrol (David Dent & Nina E. Jenkins), details recent advances in the development of biopesticides for inclusion in IPM programmes, and highlights the advantages and value to be obtained through development, exploitation and use of biopesticides in developing countries.

Chapter 4, Augmentative biological control within cotton IPM - Indian scenario (S. Lingappa, K. S. Brar & D. N. Yadav), reflects that continuous use of pesticides in cotton ecosystems has led to the destruction of natural enemies, development of resistance in pests and environmental pollution. The natural enemy fauna in the cotton ecosystem is depicted with the IPM modules for rainfed and irrigated situations at different locations in India. Chapter 5, Augmentation biocontrol within paddy IPM - Indian scenario (S. Pathummal Beevi, L. K. Hazarika & G. S. Katti), gives a picture of the feasibility of augmentative biocontrol in (rice) paddy in India. The insects on paddy and their natural enemies are listed. Chapter 6, Augmentative biocontrol within vegetable IPM - Indian scenario (M. Mani, C. Krishnamoorthy, C. Gopalakrishnan & R.J. Rabindra), describes the classical biocontrol obtained with natural enemies. For control of vegetable pests, indigenous natural enemies such as Trichogramma spp., nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs), Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), Nomuraea rileyi and Paecilomyces farinosis has given more promising results.

Chapter 7, Quality control parameters in mass produced bio-agents (Chandish R. Ballal, Sunil Joshi, S. K. Jalali & N. S. Rao), describes desirable physiological and behavioural traits in bio-agents. Major components of quality, the methods to be adopted to measure quality, the factors which affect quality, the problems encountered in quality control and possible solutions are detailed. Chapter 8, Registration and quality control of microbial biopesticides (Nina E. Jenkins, David Dent & David Grzywacz), emphasizes the need for clear registration procedures for microbial pest control agents. The regulatory procedures in the USA and EU (European Union) are discussed along with a breakdown of the cost of registering a microbial product in these two regulatory environments. Chapter 9, Regulatory issues and augmentative control (S. T. Murphy), deals with regulatory issues, which are now becoming very prominent in biological control using macrobial agents, with additional information on concerns about the safety of biological control introductions and the need for standardized procedures in the context of inundative releases. Chapter 10, Procedures for registration of biopesticides - Indian perspective (A. D. Pawar), looks at regulatory requirements and framing of rules for manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and utilization of microbials and botanicals. The need for simple registration procedures is highlighted, with emphasis on quality control of bio-pesticides.

Chapter 11, Commercial production of biocontrol agents (K. P. Jayanth & T. M. Manjunath), discusses a number of constraints commercial biocontrol labor-atories face in taking biocontrol technology to the farmers and the available methods for tackling these problems. Chapter 12, Implementation of augmentative bio-control in support of IPM - NGO perspective (M. S. Chari, P. Humayun, Ch. Anitha & M. Venkateswar Reddy), identifies non-availability of resource material to NGOs and extension agencies as a major bottleneck. Frequently farmers are eliminated from field studies with natural enemies on crop pests by researchers leading to poor perception of biological control. The NGOs have identified that there is a knowledge gap in the effective use of biological control in IPM. Farmer Participatory Development, which gives emphasis to the process rather than product to improve the farmers' analytical and management skills in biological control is suggested. Chapter 13, Extension-related problems in augmentative biological control - Indian perspective (S. C. V. Reddy, S. Balasubramanian & R. V. Usha), details the problems encountered in adopting augmentative biological control at farmer, extension personnel and industry levels. Suggestions are put forward for improvements and reforms, which would lead to popularization of augmentative biocontrol as an integral part of IPM.

This book is expected to be instrumental in expanding the sphere of knowledge on augmentative biocontrol and in inspiring researchers to delve into problems addressed in the different chapters. The book summarizes the experience and identifies the technical, economic and social challenges facing the development of better and cheaper products.

*Singh, S.P.; Murphy, S.T.; Ballal, C.R. (eds) (2001)
Augmentative biocontrol. Proceedings of the ICAR-CABI Workshop on Augmentative Biocontrol.
Bangalore, India;
Project Directorate of Biological Control, 250 pp.

Copies can be obtained from:
Dr R. D. Sharma,
CAB International - India Office,
National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC), CG Block, Pusa,
New Delhi 110012, India
Email: rds17_2001@yahoo.com

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Biocontrol-Based Pest Management

To meet the future challenges of increased food production for the growing human population, there is an urgent requirement for proven technologies, which when adopted will result in sustainable food production. A national symposium, 'Biocontrol Based Pest Management for Quality Crop Protection in the Current Millennium' was jointly organized by the Indian Society for the Advancement of Insect Science, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana and the Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bangalore. [See also Conference Reports, this issue] The meeting, held on 18-19 July 2001 at PAU, comprised three technical sessions during which lead papers were presented by invited speakers in the field of biological control from India and other countries including Australia, the UK, Kenya, the Philippines and Thailand. More than 170 research papers were presented as posters.

Lead Papers

The lead papers from this symposium have been published¹. Chapter 1, Innovations in mass rearing technology and techniques for mass releases, transportation and storage of natural enemies (S. P. Singh, Sunil Joshi & C. R. Ballal), examines various issues relating to the infrastructure required for establishing colonies of natural enemies initially in the laboratory, later leading to successful mass multiplication. Techniques standardized for the production of host insects and natural enemies including parasitoids, plant disease antagonists, predators, pathogens, entomopathogenic nematodes and nematophagous fungi have been included.

Chapter 2, Biointensive management of cereal stemborers in Africa: exploiting chemical ecology and natural enemies in a 'push-pull' strategy (Z. R. Khan), presents a case study of lepidopteran stemborers in subsistence maize production in eastern Africa. Studies have led to the development of a biointensive push-pull' strategy for minimizing stem borer damage in maize-based farming systems in Kenya.

Chapter 3, New approaches in maximising effectiveness of natural enemies (D. N. Yadav), discusses the various methods such as habitat manipulation, use of behavioural chemicals, improvement in biological traits, use of insecticide resistant strains, use of feeding and ovipositional attractants, relay cropping and establish-ment of entomophage parks, which could be used to maximise the effectiveness of natural enemies.

Chapter 4, Tritrophic interactions amongst host plants, insect pests and their natural enemies (A. J. Tamhankar & K. Shantharam), explains the basic mechanisms that influence the ecosystem population dynamics and govern the interactions between host plants, insect pests and their natural enemies, such as ecosystem energy/resource flow, trophic relationships, role of allelo/info-chemicals, habitat modifications and apparency.

Chapter 5, Augmentation biocontrol: recent progress and emerging opportunities (S. Sithanantham & N. K. Maniania), focuses on the methods for enhancing the numbers and/or activity of natural enemies in agro-ecosystems. It also describes the strategy of multiplying the biocontrol agents in large numbers and deploying them primarily for short-term impact; selective deployment of bio-agents for specific needs and selection and utilization of superior strains.

Chapter 6, Innovations in mass production of microbial agents for the control of insect pests (V. M. Pawar, U. T. Thombre & P. S. Borikar), describes the growth of microbial pesticides, their mass multiplication and their marketability.

Chapter 7, Biotechnological approaches in increasing effectiveness of microbial agents (R. J. Rabindra, J. S. Kennedy, N. Sathiah & B. Rajasekaran), deals with the advances in biotechnology which help in making IPM strategies more sustainable through increasing effectiveness of microbial agents. Approaches such as engineering microbials and plants, recombinant DNA technology and genetic improvement of entomopathogenic fungi are detailed.

Chapter 8, Biological control of plant pathogens - an application of natural control (A. N. Mukhopadhyay), reviews the various strategies of plant disease suppression through antagonists including the methods of application, mass production, mode of action, etc.

Chapter 9, Integration of biological with chemical and non-chemical methods of pest management (Banpot Napompeth), deals with the integration of non-chemical methods with biotic agents, which is ecologically, economically and socially acceptable. Stress has been laid upon the need to make the existing IPM system more practical and practicable.

Chapter 10, Transgenics in insect pest management (D. S. Brar & G. S. Khush), discusses the usefulness of strategies involving gene deployment, pyramiding of genes, targeted expression of transgenes and use of refuges. The need for transgenic technology to be integrated in a total system approach for ecologically friendly and sustainable pest management is highlighted.

Chapter 11, Development and use of heat- and insecticide-tolerant strains of natural enemies in IPM (Joginder Singh, K. S. Brar & J. P. Singh), is about the need to evolve strains which are tolerant to unfavourable temperature regimes and insecticides. The use of these strains can help in developing sustainable bio-intensive strategies in dry tracts of the country.

Chapter 12, Biocontrol of weeds using pathogens: recent advances (Carol E. Ellison & Harry C. Evans), places stress on an interdisciplinary approach to biological weed control, whereby introduced agents can also be applied inundatively. Innovative programmes developed in the use of bioherbicides, such as cut stump treatments, exploitation of niche markets in the leisure industry, and the use of mixtures of pathogens to control complexes of weeds are also discussed.

Chapter 13, Bt-cotton to combat bollworms: its development and current status (M. Manjunath & K. S. Mohan), presents efforts of Monsanto in collaboration with MAHYCO (Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company) to develop Bt-cotton in India. Field experiments to collect data on environmental safety are described.

Chapter 14, Recent developments in biocontrol of weeds using insects (Rachel E. Cruttwell McFadyen), discusses recent successes in the control of parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) in Australia, Chromolaena odorata in Indonesia, leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula complex) in the USA, and the water fern Azolla filiculoides in South Africa.

Chapter 15, Role of cultural practices in improving the abundance and efficiency of natural enemies (M. V. Potdar & A. K. Kakkar), reviews the role of diverse cultural practices on the abundance and efficiency of natural enemies in various agroecosystems. The authors stress the need to promote potential cultural practices using appropriate policy and legislative measures.

¹ Singh, S.P.; Bhumannavar, B.S.; Poorani, J.; Singh, D. (eds) (2001) Biological Control (Lead Papers) - Symposium on Biocontrol Based Pest Management for Quality Crop Protection in the Current Millennium (July 18-19, 2001).
Bangalore, India;
Project Directorate of Biological Control, 185 pp.

Copies can be obtained from: Project Director,
Project Directorate of Biological Control (ICAR),
P.B. No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post,
Hebbal, Bellary Road,
Bangalore 560 024, Karnataka, India
Email: pdblc@kar.nic.in/drspsingh@valise.com
Fax: +91 80 3411961

Extended Abstracts

The extended abstracts of the some 170 research posters presented at the symposium have also been published².

² Singh, D.; Dilawari, V.K.; Mahal, M.S.; Brar, K.S.; Sohi, A.S.; Singh, S.P. (eds) (2001) Biological control (contributed papers). Symposium on Biocontrol Based Pest Management for Quality Crop Protection in the Current Millennium, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, 18-19 July 2001.
Ludhiana, India;
Indian Society for the Advancement of Science, 228 pp.

Copies can be obtained from: Dr V. K. Dilawari,
Indian Society for the Advancement of Science,
Department of Entomology,
Punjab Agricultural University,
Ludhiana - 141004, India

Souvenir Issue

A souvenir issue³ of Advances in Biological Control was brought out on the occasion of the above symposium. The souvenir contains messages from important dignitaries conveying their wishes for the conduct of the symposium, and the text of the address by Dr R. S. Paroda, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, and Director General, ICAR: Relevance of biocontrol in the current agricultural scenario in India.

It also includes a valuable series of articles dealing with biocontrol and related technologies in IPM: Biotechnological approaches to biological control of crop pests (V. L. Chopra); Advances in biological control in India (S. P. Singh); Role of natural enemies in the management of sugarcane pests (Darshan Singh & K. S. Brar); Kairomones' potential in enhancing the efficiency of parasitoids and predators in different crop ecosystems (P. L. Tandon); Scope and potential of microbial control in India (R. J. Rabindra & N. Sathiah); Bio-intensive pest management: a promising approach (O. P. Dubey & O. P. Sharma); Pheromones as a tool for IPM (Kinya Ogawa & Toshima Kobayashi); Importance of quality control in commercial production of biocontrol agents (K. P. Jayanth); Status of biological control of insect pests in Maharashtra (V. M. Pawar, M. B. Sarkate & P. S. Borikar).

³ Souvenir - Advances in Biological Control, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, 71 pp.

Copies can be obtained from Dr V. K. Dilawari (address above).

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