2. Course Title:- Post Harvest Technology of Fruit Crops
Course No :- FSC-507
Course Credits:- 2+1=3
Course Instructor:-
Dr.C.D.Pawar
Department of Horticulture
College of Agriculture, Dapoli.
Presented By:-
Ghule Vilas Shankarrao
(HDPM/15/0088)
Department of Horticulture
(Fruit Science) 2
3. Biocontrol
Biological control can be defined as the utilization of natural enemies to
reduce the damage caused by noxious organisms to tolerable levels. OR
“The study and utilization of parasitoids, predators and pathogen for the
regulation of pest population densities.”
Biological control is often shortened to biocontrol.
Biological control is a bio effector method of controlling pests (including
insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases) using other living organisms.
It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms,
but typically also involves an active human management role.
Biocontrol uses natural or modified organisms, and genes or gene products of
selected organisms to reduce the effects of undesirable pests affecting crops.
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4. History of Biocontrol
Use of one organisms to reduce or eliminate the population of another organism - An
old concept that can be seen in early history and various cultures:
Early recognition that some animals controlled population of others.
Cats could control rodents attracted to fields of crops led to domestication of cats by Egyptians.
1770 - bamboo runways between citrus trees for ants to control caterpillars.
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5. 1888 - first well planned and successful biological control attempt made- during 1888 citrus industry in
California (USA) seriously threatened by cottony Cushion scale, Icerya purdian chemical treatments not
known at that time - Mr. C.V. Riley, A prominent entomologist suggested that the scale inscet originated from
Australia and natural enemy for the scale from Australia should be introduced into USA - Mr. Albert Koebele
was sent to Australia - he found A beetle called Vedalia (Rodolia cardinalis) attacking and feeding on seeds -
Vedalia beetle (Rodolia cardinalis) was imported in November 1888 into USA and allowed on scale infested
trees within a year spectacular control of scale insect achieved even till date this beetle controls the scale
insect - after this successful attempt of biological control many such introduction of natural enemies were
tried.
1898 - First introduction of natural enemy into India
1898 - A coccinellid beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri was imported into India from Australia and released
against coffee green scale, Cocus viridis. Even today it is effective against Mealy bugs in south India.
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1920 - a parasitoid Aphelinus mali introduced from England into India to control woolly aphid on
apple, Eriosoma lanigerum.
1929-31 - Fodolia cardinalis imported into India (from USA) to control cottony cushion scale
Icerya purchasi on wattle trees.
1958-60 - Parasitoid Prospatella perniciosus imported from China.
1960 - Parasitoid Aphytis diaspidis imported from USA both parasitoids used to control apple sanjose
scale Quadraspidiotus Perniciosus
1964 - Egg parasitoid Telenomus sp. imported from New Guinea to control castor semilooper Achaea
janata
1965 - Predator Platymeris laevicollis introduced from Zanzibar to control coconut Rhinoceros beetle,
Oryctes rhinoceros
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Certain insects act as parasites on eggs or larva, and kill the host insects.
Parasitic Insects As Bio-control Agents
Trichogramma Wasp
Epiricania melanoleuca
A card of trichogramma
eggs from NIC pinned
to a branch near
blossoms.
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Sr. No. Order Family Principal hosts
1 Hymenoptera Ichneumonide Larvae of holometabolous insects, specially
Lepidoptera (in this case hyper-parasites)
Braconidae Larvae of holometabolous insects also aphids
Encyrtidae Larvae and pupae of Lepidoptera
Eulophidae Scale insects & mealy bugs
Aphelinidae Aphids and scale insects
Pteromalide Larvae and pupae of Lepidoptera & coleoptera
Trichogrammatidae Insects eggs of various orders
2 Diptera Tachinidae Larvae of lepidoptera, Coleoptera, some hemiptera
The main parasitic families of insects and their principal hosts
9. Predatory Insects as Bio-control Agents
Predatory insects hunt and feeds on its prey insects.
9Robber fly
Assassin bug
10. The major groups of insect predators and their prey
Sr. No Group Stages which is predatory Main prey
1 Lady bird beetles Larvae & adults Aphids, Scale insects Mealy bugs
2 Ground beetles Larvae & adults Various soil dwelling insects
3 Rove beetles Larvae & adults Various soil dwelling insects
4 Tiger beetles Larvae & adults Various insects on ground surface
5 Lace wings Larvae & adults Aphids
6 Hover flies Larvae only Aphids
7 Robber flies Adults & also larvae in some areas Various insects
8 Many species of wasps
& ants
Adults but prey fed to larvae Various insects
9 Predatory bugs from
several families
Nymphs & adults Various soft bodied insects
10 Arachnid spiders Juveniles & adults Plant feeding mites
11 Vertebrate birds Various soil inhibiting insects
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11. Pathogens as Bio-control Agents
Certain microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and virus, infect insect pests
causing their death.
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Bacillus bacteria Trichoderma fungus Larva killed by NP Virus
12. Important exotic enemies of pests introduced in India.
Sr.No Enemy Origin Pest Crop
1 Apanteles subandinus s. America Phthorimaea opercula Potato
2 Apanteles unicoloratia S. America P . operculella Potato
3 Aphelinus mali N. America Eriosoma lanigerum Apple
4 Chelonus blackburni Hawaii P. Operenlella Potato
5 Copidosoma koehleri S.America P.Operculella Potato
6 Cryptolaemus montrouzieris Australia Planococcus spp and other mealy
bugs
Citrus,Guava, Custard, apple,
grapes
7 Curinus coerules Mexico Heteropsylla cubana Subabul
8 Diadegma turcator S.America P. Operculella Potato
9 Encarsia perniciosi California, Illinois,
Chinese, Russian, Strains
Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Apple
10 Leptomastix dactylopii West indies Planococcus citri Citrus, Coffee, Guava,
11 Platymerus laevicollis Zanzibar Oryctes rhinoceros Coconut
12 Telenomus alecto Colombia Borer Sugarcane
13 T.Remus New Guinea Spodoptera litura Tobacco
14 Trichogramma brasiliensis S.America Helicoverpa armigera Cotton12
13. MICROBIAL Bio-CONTROL
It is a defined as branch of biological control of pests by use of
microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, rickettsia and
nematodes.
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14. I. VIRUSES as a Biocontrol AGENT
Viruses coming under family baculoviridae cause disease in lepidoptera larvae. Two types of viruses are
common.
Npv (nucleopolyhedro virus) e.g. HaNpv, SlNpv
GV (granulovirus)
Symptoms
Lepidopteran larva become sluggish, pinkish in colour, lose appetite, body becomes fragile and
rupture to release polyhedra (virus occlusion bodies).
Dead larva hang from top of plant with prolegs attached (tree top disease or “wipfelkrankeit”)
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15. II. BACTERIA as a Biocontrol agent
2 Types of bacteria
A.Spore forming
1. Spore forming (facultative - crystalliferous)
The produce spores and also toxin (endotoxin). The endotoxin paralyses gut when
ingested e.g. Bacillus thuringiensis effective against lepidopteran. Commercial products - delfin,
dipel, thuricide
2. Spore forming (obligate)
e.g. Bacillus popilliae attacking beetles, produce ‘milky disease’ commercial product - ‘doom’ against
‘white grubs’
B. Non spore forming
1. e.g.. Serratia entomophila on grubs
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16. III. FUNGI
I. Green muscardine fungus - Metarhizium anisopliae attack coconut rhinoceros
beetle
II. White muscardine fungus - Beaveria bassiana against lepidopteran larvae
III. White halo fungus - Verticillium lecanii on coffee green scale.
Other microbs: protoza, nematodes
Limitations of biocontrol technique
- Complete control not achieved - slow process
- Subsequent pesticide use restricted
- Expensive to culture many NE
- Requires trained man power
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17. Bio-Pesticides
Bio-pesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from natural material such as animals, plants,
bacteria, and certain minerals.
Many bio-pesticides are less toxic and having a lower risk than conventional pesticides which can
be quite toxic.
Bio-pesticides fall into three major classes
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18. The most widely used microbial pesticides are subspecies and strains of Bacillus
thuringiensis, or Bt. Some Bt's control moth larvae found on plants,
Each strain of this bacterium produces a different mix of proteins, and specifically kills
one or a few related species of insect larvae.
For example, scientists can take the gene for the bt pesticidal protein, and introduce the
gene into the plant's own genetic material. Then the plant, instead of the bt bacterium,
manufactures the substance that destroys the pest
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19. Biochemical pesticides are naturally occurring substances that control pests by
non-toxic mechanisms.
Conventional pesticides, by contrast, are generally synthetic material that directly
kill or inactivate the pest.
Biochemical pesticides include substances, such as insect sex pheromones, that
interfere with mating, as well as various scented plant extracts that attract insect pests
to traps.
Bio-pesticides are usually inherently less toxic than conventional pesticides.
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20. 20
Bio-pesticides generally affect only the target pest and closely related organisms
in contrast to broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may affect organisms as
different as birds, insects, and mammals.
Bio-pesticides often are effective in very small quantities and often decompose
quickly, thereby resulting in lower exposures and largely avoiding the pollution
problems caused by conventional pesticides. When used as a component of integrated pest
management (IPM) programs, bio-pesticides can greatly decrease the use of conventional
pesticides, while crop yields remain high.
To use bio-pesticides effectively, however, users need to know a great deal about managing
pests.
21. Actinovate is a microbial pesticide registered for suppression of botrytis
fruit rot and powdery mildew on banana in the field and greenhouse.
The active ingredient in actinovate is spores of Streptomyces lydicus, a
naturally occurring bacterium commonly found in soil.
Researchers think that this bacterium helps protect plants by growing over
the plant surface, parasitizing fungal pathogens producing antibiotics
detrimental to the fungal diseases.
Before using this product in banana crop, consider whether suppression will
be adequate in a commercial crop.
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22. 22
Serenade products (Serenade ASO, Serenade MAX) are registered for the suppression
of a variety of diseases on fruit crops.
The active ingredient is Bacillus subtilis, which colonizes plant parts and helps prevent
disease microorganisms from becoming established.
Serenade products may not provide complete control and should be used as part of an
integrated disease suppression program, which includes cultural controls
So, consider whether suppression will be adequate in a commercial crop before using
these products.
Serenade is most effective when applied during the early stages of disease
development.
Rotate this product with other fungicides when conditions are conducive to heavy
disease pressure.
23. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF WEEDS
Use of living organism’s viz., Insects, disease organisms, herbivorous fish, snails or even competitive
plants for the control of weeds is called biological weed control.
In biological control method, it is not possible to eradicate weeds but weed population can be reduced.
This method is not useful to control all types of weeds.
Introduced weeds are best targets for biological control.
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24. Outstanding and feasible examples of biological weed control
Larvae of Coctoblastis cactorum, a
moth borer, control prickly pear,
Opuntia sp.
The larvae tunnel through the plants
and destroy it.
In india it is controlled by cochinial
insects Dactylopius indicus and D.
tomentosus
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25. B. Lantana camara is controlled by larvae of Crocidosema lantana, a moth bores into
the flower, stems, eat flowers and fruits.
C. Cuscuta spp. Is controlled by melanagromyza cuscutae
D. Cyperus rotundus - bactra verutana a moth borer
E. Ludiwigia parviflora is completely denuded by altica cynanea (steel blue beetle)
F. Herbivorous fish tilapia controls algae.
Common carp, a non-herbivorous fish controls submerssed aquatic weeds. It is
apparently due to uprooting of plants while in search of food.
Snails prefer submersed weeds
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26. Qualities of bio-agent
1. The bio-agent must feed or affect only one host and not other
useful plants
2. It must be free of predators or parasites.
3. It must readily adapt to environment conditions.
4. The bio-agent must be capable of seeking out itself to the host.
5. It must be able to kill the weed or at least prevent its
reproduction in some direct or indirect way.
6. It must possess reproductive capacity sufficient to overtake the
increase of its host species, without too much delay.
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27. Merits
least harm to the environment
no residual effect
relatively cheaper and comparatively
long lasting effect
will not affect non-targeted plants
Demerits
multiplication is costlier
control is very slow
success of control is very limited
very few host specific bio-agents are
available at present
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28. Mode of action
A. Differential growth habits, competitive ability of crops and varieties prevent weed
establishment eg. Groundnut, cowpea fast growing and so good weed suppresser.
B. Insects kill the plants by exhausting plant food reserves, defoliation, boring and
weakening structure of the plant.
C. Pathogenic organisms damage the host plants through enzymatic degradation of cell
constituents, production of toxins, disturbance of harmone systems, obstruction in the
translocation of food materials and minerals and malfunctioning of physiological
processes.
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29. Bio-Herbicides/ Mycoherbicides
Defination: the use of plant pathogen which are expected to kill the targeted weeds.
These are native pathogen, cultured artificially and sprayed just like post-emergence
herbicides each season on target weed, particularly in crop areas.
Fungal pathogens of weed have been used to a larger extent than bacterial, viral or
nematode pathogens, because, bacteria and virus are unable to actively penetrate the host
and require natural opening or vectors to initiate disease in plants.
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30. Some registered Mycoherbicides in western countries are tabulated below
No. Product Content Target weed
1. Devine A liquid suspension of fungal
spores of Phytophthora
palmivora causes root rot
Strangle vine (Morrenia
odorata) in citrus
2. Collego Wettable powder containing
fungal spores of
Colletotrichum
gloeosporoides causes stem
and leaf blight
Joint vetch
(Aeschyomone
virginica) in rice,
soybean
3. Bipolaris A suspension of fungal spores
of Bipolaris sorghicola
Jhonson grass (Sorghum
halepense)
4 Biolophos A microbial toxin produced as
fermentation product of
Steptomyces hygroscopicus
Non-specific, general
vegetation
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31. 1. Adaptable to the environmental condition
2. Host specific (or narrow host range)
3. Multiply faster than the host (with high fecundity)
4. Short life cycle and high female : male ratio
5. High host searching capacity
6. Amenable for easy culturing in laboratory
7. Dispersal capacity
8. Free from hyper parasites
9. Synchronise life cycle with host
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32. major
techniques
of biological
control
Conservation and
encouragement of
indigenous NE
Importation or
introduction
Augmentation
(mass culturing)
and release
Two types,
(I) inoculative release: control expected from the progeny and
subsequent generations only.
(Ii) inundative release: mass cultured and released to suppress pest
directly e.g. Trichogramma sp. Egg
parasitoid, Chrysoperla carnia predator
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33. 33
FACTORS AFFECTING BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
1. Tolerance limit of crop to insect injury - successful in crops with high tolerance limit
2. Crop value - successful in crops with high economic value
3. Crop duration - long duration crops highly suitable
4. Indigenous or exotic pest - imported NE more effective against introduced pest
5. If alternate host available for NE, control of target pest is less
6. If unfavourable season occurs, reintroduction of NE required
7. Presence of hyperparasites reduces effectiveness of biocontrol
8. Tritrophic interaction of plant-pest-natural enemy affects success of biocontrol,
e.g. Helicoverpa parasitization by trichogramma more in tomato than corn
9. Use of pesticides affect natural enemies
10. Selective insecticides (less toxic to NE required)
11. Identical situation for successful control does not occur
34. 1. Biological control has its permanent effect.
2. Biological control agents are non poisonous hence they do not have any toxic residual effect on crop
plants.
3. Some biological control agents can be produced cheaply and conveniently.
4. Insects never become resistant against biological control of agents.
5. Few biological control agents are sprayed along with insecticides so that the insect is certainly killed
either ' through one or both.
6. Beneficial insects do not have any adverse affect as in case of chemical control.
7. Biological control agents fit into the ecosystem without disrupting any other components.
8. The natural enemies are capable of self-dispersing and self-propagating, so that control is obtained
over an entire area.
9. The parasitoids and predators have the natural ability to search for their hosts and attack them.
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35. Biological control involves living organisms, hence a qualified person is
required for it.
Have narrow spectrum as they chiefly kills insects of a particular species.
They are slow in action, so it requires sufficient time to build up, and should be available in large
numbers.
It requires sufficient money and time.
Few biological agents are effective in a particular environmental conditions. So one has to wait for
conditions.
Exotic biological control agents requires favourable climatic conditions, hence sometimes a problem
for their survival.
Sometimes the level of biological control may not be effective.
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36. Some natural products such as flavour compounds, acetic acid,
jasmonates, glucosinolates, propolis, fusapyrone and
deoxyfusapyrone, chitosan, essential oils and plant extracts for the
management of fungal rotting of fruit and vegetables, thereby
prolonging shelf life.
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Papain
Natural plant Products
37. Natural plant Products
Neem Products
1. Neem Cake
2. Neem Oil
3. NSKE (Neem Seed Kernel Extract)
4. Azadirachtin
5. Nimboidal
6. Nimbodin
7. Neem Gum
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39. • References
1. Principles of Applied Entomology by K.N. Ragumoorthi, M.R. Srinivasan, V.
Balasubramani, N. Natarajan
2. Schmutterer, H. And K.R.S. Ascher, eds. 1987. Natural pesticides from the
neem tree (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss.) And other tropical plants.
3. Sustainable organic Agriculture by H.A.Modi
4. www. ICAR org.in
Thank You ! 39
