The focus of this book is on the potential of entomopathogens in agroecosystem functioning. Entomopathogens are natural enemies of insect pests and have been regularly isolated around the world for pest management purposes. Employing entomopathogens to combat insect pests of agricultural importance has gained momentum due to ecofriendly approaches applied. Although they play a critical role in IPM they remain relatively underutilized despite their many advantages over other biological and chemical products. The different chapters throw light on topics such as soil-borne entomopathogens and their molecular phylogeny; ascomycota and IPM; conidial thermotolerance; oxidative stress for mycoinsecticide enhancement; cytotoxic factors of entomopathogenic bacteria and insect haemocytes; EPN and non-target arthropods; granuloviruses and IPM; entomopathogens with other pest management options; synergism and antagonism among entomopathogen and chemical insecticides. Microbes for Sustainable Insect Pest Management, Volume 1: An Eco-friendly Approach, along with the forthcoming Volume 2: Secondary Metabolites, Hydrolytic Enzymes & Nanoparticles, provide detailed accounts on the safe use of entomopathogens for sustainable management of insect pests. Together, they aim at providing solid foundations for the students, teachers, and researchers interested in eco-friendly management of important insect crop pests.

Autorentext
Md. Aslam Khan Ph.D (2006) in Entomology (Zoology), from Aligarh Muslim University, India, is Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Khan has more than 13 years of teaching and research experience in microbial control of insect pests. As Research Associate, he worked for Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. He has also to his credit more than 47 research publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals, including 13 book chapters and two book volumes with International publishers. He is fellow of the reputed scientific societies like Royal entomological society of London, The linnean society of London, The entomological society of India. His work is mainly focus on management of insect pests using non chemical means. Wasim Ahmad Ph. D (1981), D. Sc (1993) in Nematology (Zoology) from Aligarh Muslim University is a Professor (full) of Nematology at Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, India. He has wide experience of working in leading Nematology laboratories of the world and has published extensively on nematode taxonomy, ecology and the role of Entomopathogenic nematodes in insect biocontrol. He is recipient of several national and International awards and is Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (FNASc) and the National Academy of Agriculture Sciences (FNAAS) India.

Zusammenfassung

This Volume comprises 14 chapters in an attempt to provide the reader with available information on safe and effective use of entomopathogens. Chapters in this book dealing with soil-borne entomopathogens and their phylogeny also provide a review on most updated information of their isolation and molecular identification. Employing fungal pathogens in biological control programmes plays a key role, and conidial thermotolerance and oxidative stress are examined in separate chapters. Entomopathogenic bacteria are able to kill their hosts quickly. An important contribution concerns informations provided upon bacterial cytotoxic factors on insect haemocytes. Nematodes are biological control agents safe to the environment. The information with respect to their direct and indirect effects on non-target organisms is provided. Viruses as highly specific, virulent candidates for use as biological insecticides are safe to non-target species. A separate chapter on the role of granuloviruses in IPM contributes a wealth of information. Biopesticides in combination with synthetic insecticides are reported as effective, economic, and eco-friendly. Understanding their interactions will certainly promote their uses. Finally, emphasis has been given on reviewing synergistic and antagonistic interactions of microbial and chemical pesticides, in other chapters.

Inhalt

1. Synthetic Chemical Insecticides: Environmental and Agro Contaminants.- 2. Soil-Borne Entomopathogenic Bacteria and Fungi.- 3. Molecular Phylogeny of Entomopathogens.- 4. Potential of Entomopathogenic Bacteria and Fungi.- 5. Ascomycota and Integrated Pest Management.- 6. Thermotolerance of Fungal Conidia.- 7. Oxidative Stress in Entomopathogenic Fungi and its Potential Role on Mycoinsecticide Enhancement.- 8. Effects of Cytotoxic Factors Produced by Entomopathogenic Bacteria on Insect Haemocytes.- 9. Effects of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Symbiotic Bacteria, on non-target Arthropods.- 10. Granuloviruses in Insect Pest Management.- 11. Interactions of Entomopathogens with Other Pest Management Options.- 12. Toxicological Prospects on Joint Action of Microbial Insecticides and Chemical Pesticides.- 13. Entomopathogen and Synthetic Chemical Insecticide: Synergist and Antagonist.- 14. Current State of Fungal Antagonists with Special Emphasis on Indian Scenario.