Baculoviruses as Biological Control — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptBaculoviruses are pathogens that attack insects and other arthropods. The majority of baculoviruses used as biological control agents are in the genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus. These viruses are excellent candidates for species-specific, narrow spectrum insecticidal applications. They have been shown to have no negative impacts on plants, mammals, birds, fish or even on non-target insects. This is especially desirable when beneficial insects are being conserved to aid in an overall integrated pest management (IPM) programme, or when an ecologically sensitive area is being treated.
Which of the following statements about biocontrol agents and their targets are NOT correct? S1: Ladybird beetles are effective in eliminating mosquito populations in agricultural fields. S2: Bacillus thuringiensis is primarily used for controlling plant fungal diseases. S3: Baculoviruses, particularly Nucleopolyhedrovirus, are examples of broad-spectrum insecticidal agents, harming various beneficial insects. S4: Trichoderma species are free-living fungi that function as biocontrol agents against root-borne plant pathogens. S5: Bt-cotton plants are developed to resist attack by specific insect pests, such as butterfly caterpillars.
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