The role of baculoviruses in controlling insect pests: A review

Abstract

Baculovirus play a major role in the control of insect pests that reduce the negative effect of synthetic insecticides on non-target groups and latter improve the integrated pest management for sustainable, effective and economical insect pest management practices. However, its impact on the control of insect pests is not well recognized. This review assesses the role of baculoviruses in controlling insect pests and indicates future research areas. Many viruses occur naturally, but some are produced commercially. Baculovirus is one of the microbial biopesticides that play an important role in providing pest management tools in areas where pesticide resistance, niche markets, and environmental concerns reduce the use of synthetic insecticide products. The Nucleopolyhedrovirus and Granulovirus are the two major groups of baculoviruses used as microbial biocontrol agents. Baculoviruses are important for insect pest management, reducing insecticide resistance and host specificity. On the other hand, the high specificity of baculoviruses is reported as a limitation for agricultural uses, since growers may need one product to use against a different pest. However, virologists have been working on increase the effectiveness of viral biocontrol agents through genetic engineering. Genetic engineering plays a vital role to improve insect killing rates, infectivity, and ultraviolet resistance to enhance viruses for insect control. Recombinant viruses have been engineered with the goal of shortening the time required for infection to kill insect pests. Still now, commercialization of baculoviruses is a major challenge, therefore researchers and stakeholders give attention to optimize massive production of baculoviruses for integrated insect pest management.

Keywords:

• baculoviruses
• biopesticides
• entomopathogenic viruses
• genetic modification

Public interest statement

Insects and other arthropods are susceptible to baculoviruses, which are diseases. Similar to some human viruses, they are often quite small (less than a thousandth of a millimetre in diameter) and predominantly made of double-stranded DNA, which codes for the genes necessary for virus establishment and reproduction. Baculoviruses, which are naturally occurring viruses with the ability to infect insects, are utilized in biocontrol. When one of these eligible insect hosts consumes these naturally occurring infections, the pathogens proliferate in the insect’s gut cells, resulting in illness and death. At currently, only in vivo methods have been used for the commercial production of baculoviruses. These methods include injecting the virus to the host insect in the field and gathering sick or dead larvae, as well as growing the target insect in a lab on an artificial diet.

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the anonymous editors and potential reviewers for their valuable input on the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

Concept, synthesis, write-up

Availability of data and materials

The dataset that supports the findings of this review is included in the article.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Yohannes Gelaye

Yohannes Gelaye is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Horticulture, Debre Markos University, Ethiopia. He did Master’s degree in Horticulture at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. He has taught various courses (Vegetable and fruit crops production and management, Ornamental plants production, Plant propagation, Plant physiology, Coffee production, processing and quality control, Design and agricultural experimentation, Protection, Nutrition sensitive agriculture) at Debre Markos University, since December 2014. His research interest is horticulture crops improvement, Postharvest handling and management, Food safety, Soil fertility improvement and management, Nutrition and food security.

Belete Negash

Belete Negash (PhD) is a lecturer and researcher in Debre Markos University, Ethiopia. He did his PhD in agricultural entomology at Hawassa University, Ethiopia. He has been giving different M. Sc courses (IPM, agricultural pesticides, biological control etc.) at Debre Markos University.