Advances in Biocontrol of Crop Insect Pests

“I enjoyed this book. All chapters are authored by recognised experts from government, industry and academia and are generally well-written. Each chapter concludes with ‘Where to look for further information,’ which is distinct from the references. This was a useful touch which, as a biocontrol practitioner, I found myself using for follow up research. In summary, this book proves a valuable update to the biocontrol literature and should become a valuable addition to research libraries.” (Book Review Published in Biocontrol Science and Technology)

As a result of increasing consumer and regulatory concern about the environmental impact of synthetic pesticide use, the biocontrol sector has rapidly expanded and continues to diversify in its product offering, with a suggested estimate of over 1700 different biocontrol products now available on the market.

Advances in biocontrol of crop insect pests provides a detailed overview of some of the key developments in this area, including the techniques used to disrupt insect pest behaviour, such as the use of semiochemicals and genetic engineering. The book also reviews recent advances in understanding plant defences against insect pest attacks and how these defences can be improved to limit crop damage and yield.

Through its exploration of the recent advances in the biocontrol sector, the book highlights the potential of novel biocontrol agents to reduce agriculture’s environmental impact, whilst also considering the key formulation issues and regulatory challenges that may arise during the product development stage.

Professor Travis Glare is CEO of Lincoln Agritech Ltd. and Professor of Applied Entomology at Lincoln University, New Zealand. He has an international reputation and has published widely in the field of entomopathogenic microbes and use of biopesticides. He has worked on a range of international projects to develop novel biopesticides.

Dr Linda Muskat is a professor of Phytopathology and Plant Protection in Viticulture and Horticulture at Hochschule Geisenheim University. Her primary research interest is the development and application of living microbial biocontrol agents for plant protection.

Claudia Preininger is a formulation expert and senior researcher at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. With a background in chemistry and marketing & sales, her career expands over several material-related fields including diagnostic assay development, immobilization of proteins and microorganisms for sensors, and microarrays and since 2015, the design of biological agroformulations. She currently has responsibility for the development of sustainable bioformulations suitable for seed coatings, foliar spray and soil amendment in the field of plant growth promotion and biocontrol.

Professor Michael J. Stout is L. D. Newsom Professor of Integrated Pest Management at Louisiana State University, USA.

Professor Johannes A. Jehle is Head of the Institute of Biological Control at the Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants (Julius Kühn Institute) in Dossenheim and Adjunct Professor at the Technical University Darmstadt, Germany. He is also Vice-President of the West Palaearctic Regional Section of the International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control (IOBC-WPRS), a member of the IOBC-WPRS Working Group on Microbial and Nematode Control, and previous President of the Society of Invertebrate Pathology (SIP). A member of the editorial boards of several journals, Professor Jehle is internationally known for his research on entomopathogenic viruses and microbial control of pest insects.