Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation

(Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation)
compatibility with other pesticides and plant protection equipments and the economic analysis.
The most critical stage in developing a bio-pesticide is the mass production and formulation of the
biocontrol agent, because it represents a living system which must stand with appropriate CUF
during the process of development and remain sufficiently viable in the final product for effective
management of diseases. The basic requirement for mass production of an antagonist is to
standardize the nutritional requirements and cultural conditions which differ not only from one
group of organism to the other, but from species to species, and even with strains/isolates within
the same species. The formulation of a biocontrol agent is as critical as its mass production. While
formulating a bio-pesticide, the adjuvant should not be toxic to biocontrol agent; the physical
manipulation done during formulation should have no adverse effect on the viability of the
organism; a food base may be required to be added which helps in initial establishment of some of
the biocontrol agents; should have the CFU of at least 2x10 6 /g or ml with shelf-life of at least six
months. easy to apply and survive in the field during the entire cropping season or at least at
susceptible stage of the plant even under adverse conditions.
Bio-pesticides falls under the Insecticide Act (1968) under which any microbial organism
manufactured or sold for pest and disease control should be registered with the Central
Insecticides Board (CIB) of the Ministry of Agriculture and license for their manufacture,
formulation and sale are dealt with at the State level. CIB advises the Central Government and
State Governments on technical matters on which the Board may advise, the risk to human being
or animals involved in the use of bio-pesticides and the safety measures necessary to prevent
such risk and. the manufacture, sale, storage, transport and distribution of bio-pesticides with a
view to ensure safety to human beings or animals. Manufacturers can register their products under
either 9(3) B (temporary registration for two years and can be extended further for one year) or
9(3) (regular registration). The data requirement for registration under 9(3) B is less stringent than
for 9(3). Data on product characterization, efficacy, safety, toxicology, and labeling must be
submitted, while applying for registration. The quality standards of bio-pesticides established by
CIB’s must be met, with reference to content, virulence of the organism in terms of LD 50,
moisture content, shelf life, and secondary non-pathogenic microbial load. Information required for
registration of bio-pesticide are, systemic name and common name, natural occurrence,
morphological description, details of manufacturing process, active and inert ingredient of
formulation, test method used, quantitative analysis (including cfu in selective media), details of
moisture content, shelf-life, mammalian toxicity, environmental toxicity and residue analysis.
In order to satisfy the commercial requirements, a bio-pesticide should have, viable market
size, high performance with persistence of effect, safety and stability, indigenous and saprophytic,
low cost of production, easy to produce, easy to apply and compatible with conventional
technology as well chemical pesticides.
The biocontrol still represents a very small portion of disease management. If the goal of
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