Genetic Control of Insect Pests focuses on laboratory and field trials of genetic control methods of insects, which entails the use of insects to control themselves. It particularly describes species-specific and non-polluting genetic methods that have the advantage over most other methods of being efficient when the target insect is in low density, as the released insects have the capacity to search out the wild populations. Composed of nine chapters, the core parts of the book cover the mass-rearing, sterilization, and release of populations in the hope that these will mate with wild populations, leading to fertility reduction and population elimination. The book also examines techniques that use naturally existing population incompatibilities and techniques, which can result in population replacement rather than eradication with the intention to render such replacement populations harmless beforehand by genetic manipulation. This book is a valuable source of information for those who are searching for biological alternatives of insect pests control.
This book explores the risks and benefits of crops that are genetically modified for pest resistance, the urgency of establishing an appropriate regulatory framework for these products, and the importance of public understanding of the issues. The committee critically reviews federal policies toward transgenic products, the 1986 coordinated framework among the key federal agencies in the field, and rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency for regulation of plant pesticides. This book provides detailed analyses of: Mechanisms and results of genetic engineering compared to conventional breeding for pest resistance. Review of scientific issues associated with transgenic pest-protected plants, such as allergenicity, impact on nontarget plants, evolution of the pest species, and other concerns. Overview of regulatory framework and its use of scientific information with suggestions for improvements.
Pest and disease management continues to challenge the agricultural community. The rise in new pest and crop problems juxtaposed with public concern over pesticide use and more stringent environmental regulations creates the need for today's agricultural producers to stay current with new technologies for producing quality crops profitably. Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests presents an overview of alternative measures to traditional pest management practices, utilizing biological control and biotechnology. The removal of some highly effective broad-spectrum chemicals, caused by concerns over environmental health and public safety, has resulted in the development of alternative, reduced risk crop protection products. These products, less toxic to the environment and easily integrated into biological control systems, target specific life stages or pest species. Predation - recognized as a suitable, long term strategy - effectively suppresses pests in biotechnological control systems. Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests covers these topics and more. It explores the current approaches in alternative solutions such as: biological control agents, parasites and predators, pathogenic microorganisms, pheromones, botanical insecticides, genetic control, genetic engineering of plants and biocontrol agents, and government regulations for biocontrol agents and recombinant DNA technology. This book will be a useful resource to entomologists, agronomists, horticulturists, and environmental scientists.
Insect pest control remains an important economic, environmental, and public health challenge. CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive (GD) is a novel genetic control strategy. GDs are genetic systems that can rapidly invade a population. This manuscript presents my efforts to develop gene drives in two important pest species, Anopheles gambiae, a major vector of malaria, and Drosophila suzukii, a global crop pest. The goals of this project were to develop a suppression gene drive in D. suzukii, to reduce population size, and a modification drive in An. gambiae, to reduce malaria transmission. While I was unable to produce a functional gene drive in D. suzukii, the efforts and protocols presented here can serve as a baseline for future work in this economically important crop pest. In An. gambiae, I successfully characterized two transgenic lines, one of which significantly blocks malaria transmission to a rodent model. Finally, I present my efforts to engineer a new modification gene drive strategy, indirect gene drive.
Genetic Control of Malaria and Dengue focuses on the knowledge, technology, regulation and ethics of using genetically modified mosquitoes to interrupt the transmission of important vector-borne diseases including Malaria. It contains coverage of the current state of knowledge of vector-borne diseases and how they are currently controlled; vaccine, drug and insecticide development; various strategies for altering the genome of mosquitoes in beneficial ways; and the regulatory, ethical and social environment concerning these strategies. For more than five decades, the prospect of using genetically-modified mosquitoes to control vector-borne disease transmission has been a purely hypothetical scenario. We simply did not have the technology or basic knowledge to be able to do it. With the explosion of field trials and potential interventions in development, Genetic Control of Malaria and Dengue provides a comprehensive overview of research in genetics, microbiology, virology, and ecology involved in the development and implementation of genetic modification programs for virus and disease control. This book is meant to provide a practical guide to researchers, regulators and the general public about how this technology actually works, how it can be improved, and what is still unknown. Includes coverage of vectorial capacity, critical to understanding vector-borne disease transmission Provides a summary of the concepts of both population suppression and population replacement Contains pivotal coverage of ethical and ecological ramifications of genetics-based control strategies
Insect pests are becoming a problem of ever-more biblical proportions. This new textbook collates a series of selected papers that attempt to address various fundamental components of area-wide insect pest control. Of special interest are the numerous papers on pilot and operational programs that pay special attention to practical problems encountered during program implementation. It’s a compilation of more than 60 papers authored by experts from more than 30 countries.
Contributed papers by experts in the field detail how to put integrated pest management to work. Presents the philosophy and practice, ecological and economic background as well as strategies and techniques including not only the use of chemical pesticides but also biological, genetic and cultural methods to manage the harm done by insect pests. Covers such key crops as cotton, corn, apples and forage. This edition reports important advances of the last decade including an increased environmental and ecological awareness and a trend toward lower chemical pesticide use.
Biotechnology has contribute much to the field of insect pest management so far, from side to side development of transgenic plants and other novel ecofriendly products to manage insects. Recognition of the importance and relevance of biotechnological applications in insect control is gaining momentum. There is also improved interest among scientists in developing novel strategies for insect pest management. Realizing the possible benefits and constraints in the use of biotechnology in insect pest management, a national symposium on 'Biotechnology and Insect Pest Management' was organized freshly. Deliberations during the symposium covered various aspects such as insect resistant transgenic crops, microbial pesticides - process and development, botanical pesticides - process and development, hybridization techniques in the production of potential natural enemies, insect and animal vectors of diseases and biosafety concerns, etc. Genetic engineering has been used to enhance the insecticidal efficacy of various strains of Bt by increasing virulence, extending host range, and increasing field stability, and by introducing alternative toxins to facilitate resistance management. Techniques have been developed for production by genetic means of new strains of Bt with new combinations of toxin genes. Crop varieties resistant to insects are far less common than disease-resistant varieties, because plant breeders have traditionally focused more on disease resistance. However, if they are available, resistant varieties can be an effective defense against insect pests. But even when insect-resistant cultivars are not available, some varieties may be less attractive to pest species or may tolerate more damage than others. Plant size, shape, coloration, leaf hair, cuticle thickness, and natural chemicals (attractants and repellents) can all affect pest susceptibility. Farmers can do their own breeding by collecting non-hybrid seed from healthy plants in the field. Plants well adapted to local conditions will be more likely to resist pests. This book throws new light on alternative technologies to control insect pests. Scientists from different institutions from all over world have provided various biotechnology based techniques and other means to manage insect pests.
