CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project reported entitled

“BIOPESTICIDES” submitted by
Reg. No:_______________of class XII is in partial
fulfilment of AISSCE 2024-2025 practical examination
in BIOLOGY.This is a bonafide record of the work
carried out in our guidance and supervision at Airport
Senior Secondary School,Calicut Airport

Signature of the principal

Signature of the internal
examiner

Signature of external Seal of the institution

examiner
 CONTENT

1. Acknowledgment 1

2. Introduction 2
Biopesticides:global and Indian
3. perspective 4

4. Categories of Biopesticides
6
Biopesticides Derived from
5. Bacteria 11

6. Mode of Action Bacillus thuringiensis

17
Advantages of Bacterial
7.
Biopesticides 19
Disadvantages of Microbial
8.
Insecticides 20
9. Conclusion
21
10. Bibliography 22
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my profound thanks to the

people who helped me to make this project reality.
I thank our principal Mrs. SREEKALA.B for her
moral support. I wish to extend my sincere
gratitude to our guide and teacher Mrs. ANUPAMA
for her cheerful encouragement, analysis of the
project 'BIOPESTICIDES' and for her valuable
suggestions.
I would like to thank my parents, friends and other
staff for their valuable suggestions and
constant guidance. Above all, I thank GOD
ALMIGHTY, for showering his blessings throughout
the project work.

1
 Introduction
Biopesticides are the biological agents or plant-
based products used to control the population
of dangerous organisms to the ecosystem. They
are naturally occurring substances from living
organisms (natural enemies) or their products
(microbial products, phytochemicals) and their
by-products that can control
pests by non-toxic mechanisms (Salma and
Jogen 2011). They are considered as minimal risk
products safe to human and his environment. It
includes the use of microbial
pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and
natural enemies of pests such as parasitoids like
wasps, flies (e.g. tachinid flies), beetles and
worms (e.g. gordian worms) and
predators, nematodes and semiochemicals.
Indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides
resulted in the development of resistance,
resurgence and outbreak of secondary pests.
Stringent regulation in the use of synthetic
pesticides and the demand for organics promote
the use of biopesticides(Neem, Tobacco, Garlic,
Onion, Citronella, Jatropha)
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Management of pests without using harmful
chemicals to human health and the
environment is possible only by using
biopesticides (Chandler et al. 2011; Bastiaans et
al. 2008). Biopesticides play an important role
in sustainable agriculture (Prasad et al. 2014,
2017). It causes mortality by substantially
reducing arthropod populations before it
reaches the economic threshold level (the
population density at which control measures
should be determined to prevent an increasing
pest population from reaching the Economic
injury level). There is an urgent requirement to
include biopesticides in Integrated Pest
Manage- ment Programmes (IPM) to make it
more sustainable since it lacks phytotoxicity,
leaves no residues and is eco-friendly
(Bhattacharyya et al. 2016).

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 Biopesticides: Global and
Indian Perspective
The contribution of biopesticides to insecticide
eg:Mutualism(Mutualism is advantageous for both
partners; aphids provide ants with sugar-rich
honeydew as a source of food and the ants
protect the aphids against various natural enemies
and improve the hygiene of the aphid colony)
sector accounts for 15% of the total insecticide
market. The estimated share of biopesticides in
the world market is around $3 billion accounting
for 5% of the total crop protection (Marrone
2014). The growth rate of a biopesticides is
increased to 15%. In a successful natural control
program, only 15% of biocontrol agents for
control of insect pests have been identified.
Commercially more than 125 species of natural
enemies are available as biopesticides. Almost
90% of the microbial biopesticides currently
available in the market are derived from only
one entomopathogenic bacteria, i.e., Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt). Major producers and users of
biopesticides in the world are the United States
(US), European Union (EU) and India.
4
According to the report of India Biopesticides
Market Insights, the Indian biopesticides market
is expected to reach INR 316 Billion by 2024
from INR 197 billion during 2018. Biopesticides
market potential in India is remarkably huge as
the crop losses due to pest is about USD 9259
million per annum. However, presently, the
biopesticides market accounts for only 5% of
the pesticide industry. The Central Insecticides
Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC) in
India have registered about 970 microbial
formulations. Further, about 200
entomopathogenic fungi-based products are
available for commercial use.

A total of 45 products of Bt are commercially

available. B. thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki is
widely used against bollworms, loopers and
other lepidopterans. B. thuringiensis subspecies
israelensis and sphaericus are used against the
mosquito. Among viruses, nuclear polyhedrosis
viruses (NPV) are used against bollworms and
armyworms.

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 Categories of
Biopesticides

Based on the classification by Environmental

Protection Agency on the type of ingredient
used, biopesticides are categorized into
three major classes :

(1) microbial Pesticides

(2) plant-incorporated protectants
(3) biochemical Pesticides

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(1)microbial Pesticides
Microbial pesticides are the largest
group of pest-specific, broad-spectrum
biopesticides. Microbial pesticides
include use of microbes such as
bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoans
as active ingredients for the
management of insect pests. They are
relatively precise for their target
species. Microbial biopesticides are
self-perpetuating, host-specific and
environment-friendly. Among the most
widely used microorganisms against
insect pests is Bt. It is used to control a
wide array of pests including
lepidopterans, coleopterans and
dipterans (Gill et al. 1992).

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(2) Plant-Incorporated
Protectants (PIPs)
They are also called as genetically
modified crops. Plant-incorporated
protectants are pesticidal substances
produced by plants and the genetic
material required to produce such
substances are introduced into the
plants to offer resistance against pests.
Pesticidal proteins separated from the
bacteria or fungi are introduced into the
plant and the genetically modified
plants resist against specific pests. A
typical example of this is use of Bt
protein to develop Plant-incorporated
protectants thorough the
process of genetic engineering. Bt toxin
is host- specific, achieves quick
mortality of the pests usually within 48hours
(Siegel 2001). No harmful effect on
the ecosystem and it does not harm
vertebrates (Lacey et al. 2015).
8
For example, scientists can take the gene for a
specific Bt pesticidal protein and introduce the
gene into the plant's genetic material.

Bt Gene is
Bacillus
inserted
thuringiensis
into crop

Crop is infected by Pest dies when feeding on

European corn borer any plant part

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(3) Biochemical Pesticides
They are also known as herbal pesticides
(Pal.et.al.2013). They are naturally occurring
substances and secondary metabolites that
control or inactivate pests. Most widely used
biochemical pesticide is from neem and
neem- based formulations such as neem oil,
neem seed kernel extract, neem extract
concentrates from bark and leaves which are
available in India. Also, essential oils from
canola, tea tree, lemongrass (Cymbopogon
citrates) and pyrethrin from Chry-
santhemum cinerariaefolium are used as
biochemical pesticides. Diatomaceous earth
(DE) derived from fossilized sediments of
numerous marine and freshwater siliceous
organisms especially diatoms and other algae
are used against an array of field pests.

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 Biopesticides Derived
from Bacteria

Bacterial pesticides are broadly classified

into three categories:

1. Obligate pathogens
2. Facultative pathogens
3. Potential pathogens

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 1. Obligate pathogens

These pathogens require special

conditions and media for growth
reproduction and sporulation. They
have a very narrow host and most of
them are spore formers. They are
ideal for biological pest control
programs. They have good stability.
For example: Bacillus popillae and
B.lentimorbus cause milky disease.

Bacillus popillae B.lentimorbus

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 2. Facultative pathogen
Facultative pathogens do not require
special conditions for growth,
reproduction and sporulation. They are
less virulent than obligate pathogens.
Two categories of facultative
pathogens are crystalliferous and non-
crystalliferous. Crystalliferous bacteria
produce proteinaceous crystals
responsible for its toxicity. These are
mostly spore formers. They have a wide
host range. The bacterium B.
thuringiensis berliner is a
crystalliferous spore former
commercially exploited as the
biocontrol agent..

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Sporulation in Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner

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 3. Potential pathogens
Potential pathogens can easily be
cultured on artificial media and have a
wide host range. It can infect insects
even at small doses (<10,000 cells) and
has a broad host range, e.g.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia
marcescens used against root-knot
nematodes and Phyllophaga blanchardi
used against coleopteran pests. The
non-invasive and non-spore forming
nature of these pathogens limits them
as promising biocontrol agents.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phyllophaga blanchardi Serratia

marcescens

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16
 Mode of Action of Bacillus
thuringiensis

Bacillus thuringiensis produces protein crystals

during spore formation, which is respon-
sible for lysis of gut cells when consumed by
susceptible insects (Chandler et al. 2011). B.
thuringiensis produces crystalline protein
(cry and cyt). When cry protein is ingested by
the larva, delta-endotoxins are activated in
the gut of the insects which has alkaline pH
(9.0 to 11.0). The proteins are attached to
the gut receptor site, create pores in the
midgut cells (Kumar 2012). Bt toxin causes
paralysis of the midgut, cell lysis results in
the release of gut contents into the
hemocoel of the insect, disrupting the pH
balance and finally death of specific target
pest (Betz et al. 2000; Zhu et al. 2000;
Darboux et al. 2001)

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18
 Advantages of Bacterial
Biopesticides

• Safe to use: Bacterial biopesticides are safe

to wildlife, humans and other organisms.
• Specific: The bacterial biopesticides are
specific against their target organisms. They
do not affect the beneficial insects.
• Compatible with other methods: Most of
the bacterial insecticides are compatible
with synthetic chemical biopesticides.
• Non-hazardous: It leaves no residues. So it
can be applied even during the harvesting
stage of the crop.
• Natural establishment: Bacterial
biopesticides are self-perpetuating. Hence it
is effective even during the subsequent crop
growth seasons.

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 Disadvantages of Microbial
Insecticides

• Microbial insecticides are toxic to only a

specific species or group of insects. It may
control only specific pests and the others
will survive and continue to cause damage.
• When predators and parasitoids are used in
pest management programs use of synthetic
pesticides may harm the beneficial
organisms so,The selection of appropriate
chemical pesticides is essential.
• The effectiveness of microbial insecticides
is affected by factors like ultraviolet
radiation, heat, etc. Hence, it should be
applied in the morning hours on

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 Conclusion
There have been growing interests in
sustainable and organic agriculture in devel-
oping countries because of the availability of
natural inputs, human resources and agro-
climatic conditions. Disadvantages of the use
of chemical insecticides and demand for
organics pushed biopesticides forefront in
pest management. Microbes provide certain
distinct advantages over other control agents
and methods. The major advantage of
exploiting microorganisms for pest control is
their environmen- tal safety primarily due to
the host specificity of these pathogens.
Microorganisms have natural capability of
causing disease at epizootic levels due to
their persistence in soil and efficient
transmission. Many insect pathogens are
compatible with other control methods
including chemical insecticides and
parasitoids. The cost of devel- opment and
registration of microbial insecticides are
much lesser than chemical insecticides.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
HELP FROM FOLLOWING
BOOKS HAVE BEEN USED
IN THE COMPLETION OF THIS
PROJECT -:

BIOLOGY TEXTBOOK FOR CLASS XII

ALL IN ONE BIOLOGY-12th CLASS

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