PRODUCTION OF INSECTICIDAL COMPOUNDS USING BACTERIA AND FUNGI

Pest and diseases have a serious effect on food production. Global crop yields are reduced by 20 to 40% annually due to impact of pests and diseases.Indiscriminate use of insecticides to combat insect challenges, have increased the selection pressure leading to resistance in insects. In such a situation, alternate options of insect control are advocated. The use of microbial insecticidal compounds offer adequate levels of insect control and pose fewer hazards.Microbial insecticidal compounds are especially valuable because they parasitize a very wide range of hosts that kill many insect pests. Also, their toxicity to nontarget animals and humans is extremely low. Although of numerous benefits, microbial insecticidal compounds also have limitations but compared to other commonly used insecticidal compounds, they are safe for both the insecticide user and consumers of treated crops.