Biopesticide formulation

Over the last 20 years, there have also been substantial improvements to the formulation that have enhanced selectivity and improved operator safety (Mulqueen, 1998). These include suspension concentrates (SC), capsule suspension (CS), and other formulations which are sprayed as particulate suspensions in this way certain aspects of chemical application may have become similar to those of biopesticides (e.g. as in Figure 8.8). Innovations with biopesticide formulation have sometimes proved momentous for example, the discovery that my coinsecticide efficacy could be substantially enhanced by formulating in oil (Prior etal., 1988). 

Several factors affect the activity and performance of biopesticide formulations. Being generally of natural origin and often being live, these unique pesticidal products need special attention compared to the synthetic active ingredients with which they generally compete in agrichemical markets. Several factors alter the behavior or activity of biopesticidal compositions. 

Malone, L.A., Burgess, E.P.J. and Stefanovic, D. (1999). Effects of a Bacillus thuringiensis toxin, two Bacillus thuringiensis biopesticide formulations, and a soybean trypsin inhibitor on honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) survival and food consumption. Apidologie 30,465 73. 

The encapsulation of biopesticides has been studied for many years, but the author is not aware of any commercialized encapsulated biopesticide formulations. Hunter-Fujita and co-workers (74) summarize the techniques and shell materials used to produce past encapsulated biopesticide formulations. More recently, Behle and co-workers (75) describe the storage stability and field activity of a spray-dried nucleopolyhedrovirus formulation. Cost and long-term stability of encapsulated biopesticides remain issues to be resolved. 

Development of serum-free medium has great value for large-scale biopesticide production. The latest formulations are serum-free, such as SF900II (GIBCO /Invitrogen) and EX-CELL (JRH Biosciences). Cell culture medium supplementation using yeast extract (usually from alcoholic fermentation processes), milk, or soy protein concentrates, can also be an alternative to decrease cell culture medium costs (more details can be found in Chapter 5). 

Protein-rich rape seed residues from biodiesel production plants are rich in phenolic compounds, glucocinolates and phytic acid. Phenolic compounds and phytic acid could be used as potent antioxidants in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations (Shamsuddin, 1995 Amarowicz and Shahidi, 1994 Wanasundara et al., 1996 Oatway et al., 2001). Derivatives from glucosinolate hydrolysis, including isothiocyanates, thiocyanates and nitriles, could be used as anticarcinogenic agents, biopesticides and flavour compounds (Halkier and Gershenzon, 2006). 

Biopesticides are biological pesticides based on beneficial insect and weed pathogens and entomopathogenic nematodes. Pathogens used as biopesticides include fungi, bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Produced, formulated and applied in appropriate ways, such biopesticides can provide ecological and effective solutions to pest problems. 

Bt used in spray-on formulations is, perhaps, the most successful biopesticide. Reasons for Bt s success include ease of handling and a very high specific activity against sensitive insects. For example, a Bt insecticidal protein called CrylAc has a LCjq on Heliothis virescens neonate larvae as low as 0.07 ppm [10]. However, most individual Bt insecticidal proteins have a narrow activity spectrum. As mentioned, CrylAc is very active against H. virescens, while another Bt toxin called CrylCa is not. CrylCa is active against Spodoptera exigua, but CrylAc is not. This is perhaps... 

Biological Pesticides, Bacillus thuringiensis, Integrated Pest Management, Myrothecium, Formulations, Bacillus subtilis, Biopesticides, Larvicides, Biological Control... 

Pesticidal compositions containing CyDs to increase their solubility have also been patented [63]. Azadirachtin, a biopesticide of plant origin, highly unstable in aqueous media and extremely sensitive to sunlight, has been formulated using j5- and j5-methyl-CyD to enhance its solubility [64], avoiding the use of surfactants and organic solvents, which do not sufficiently enhance the shelf life of the formulations. 

Formulation of Microbial Biopesticides, Beneficial Microorganisms, and Nematodes. H. D. Burges Ed. Chapman Hall, London, UK. 1998 Chapters. 

The biopesticide, IR3535 (3-(A-butyl-Af-acetyl)-aminopiopionic acid ethyl ester) has been in use for the longest of the three having been introduced in Europe in 1979 and the United States in 1999. No case studies could be identified concerning reported toxicity, although it is difficult to gauge the extent to which it has been formulated into various products. Eurther, very little in terms of kinetics and toxicity profile is available in the literature. A similar lack of data applies to p-menthane-3,8-diol. 

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