Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation

(Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation)
Commercial Aspect of Biocontrol of Pest & Diseases
A.K. Tewari
Department of Plant Pathology, G.B.P.U.A&T., Pantnagar- 263 145 (UK)
The goal of biocontrol research is to provide additional tools for disease management. To
place these tools in the growers’ hands, products must be commercialized. The Bio-pesticide
market is growing very rapidly. In 2005, bio-pesticides accounted for about 2.5% of the total
pesticide market, which was merely 0.2% during 2000. This share is expected to grow to about
5.2% by 2012. The contributions of bio-pesticides are important because, they offer different
modes of action from chemical pesticides and can, therefore, be applied in rotation with pesticides
to reduce the possible development of pathogen resistance; pathogen resistance to fungicides has
promoted interest in development of biocontrol agents; biocontrol can also be used in situations
where currently no control is available or where conventional pesticides cannot be used due to
reentry or residue concerns, or where the product must be certified organic; biocontrol can also be
used in combination with reduced rates of pesticides. The relevance of biocontrol agents in plant
pathology is still limited in spite of the great enthusiasm generated by researchers on biopesticides.
It is due to over optimistic published papers on the subject; over emphasis of several
partial results; exaggerated claims in the literature have over shadowed problems; most of
scientific reports are focused on selection of strains and basic biochemical studies and priority
issues as mass production, formulation of biocontrol agents, toxicological and environmental
safety and integration into other control strategies are not completely developed. These must be
identified and solved by the researchers if BCAs have to find their rightful place among the
different strategies of plant disease control. Biocontrol agents fail to become commercial products
as scientists outside industry often overestimate the power of environmental concerns as
economic drivers; lack sufficient knowledge of grower needs, registration strategy and competitive
forces; have native ideas about positioning and market strategy; underestimate registration costs
and difficulties and insufficient cost-performance and poor shelf life.
Commercialization of bio-pesticides is a multi-step process involving a wide range of
activities. Broadly it falls into 3 main categories i.e. discoveries, development and registration.
Most of the potentially useful microbial pesticides have been discovered by the scientists who
have studied on a particular problem at site location in search of indigenous biocontrol agents.
Presently industries do not develop the resources or incentives to discover a biocontrol agent in
this manner. Therefore, the universities, government agencies and research foundation must play
a significant role in the discovery of biocontrol agents. Once a biocontrol agent is identified with
potential for commercialization, it enters the next phase towards commercialization, i.e.
development phase.
The development phase involves tests for efficacy, safety, specificity, test for genetic
stability, potential for mass production, formulation, stability and shelf-life, delivery system,
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