The use of entomopathogenic micro-organisms for regulating
the populations of insect pests was first proposed at the end
of the 19th Century by several pioneering scientists, including
Louis Pasteur. A large range of micro-organisms such as bacteria,
viruses, fungi and protozoans have since been identified
as potential candidates for use in biocontrol strategies against
insect pests (Riba and Silvy, 1989). Given the undesirable effects
of chemical insecticides and public health problems in
tropical countries, these biopesticides – which also present the
advantage of having only a minor impact on the environment
– have come to occupy a stable, although modest position in
the insecticide market. The biopesticide market currently accounts
for 2% of the worldwide crop protection market of
about 600 million US dollars, with about 90% of all biopesticide
sales involving products based on Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt). There are many reasons for this success: the larvicidal
activity of Bt is rapid but sustained, Bt can be applied
with standard equipment and its effects on beneficial insects
and non-target organisms are negligible. The advantages of Bt
have not escaped biotech companies, which began introducing
Bt genes into many crop plants, including cotton and maize,
at the end of the 1980s. The insertion of these genes leads to
the production of Bt toxins in various tissues, protecting the
plant against attacks by several highly damaging pests. How-
ever, the use of these transgenic crops remains highly controversial
in Europe, but is increasing year after year over the
world. Hence, the cultivation of transgenic plants expressing
genetically modified Bt genes has increased considerably in
recent years, reaching more than 32 million hectares worldwide
in 2006 (James, 2006). This expansion of the area under
Bt crops has greatly increased the selection pressure exerted
on the pests targeted by the toxins, increasing the risk
that mutations conferring greater tolerance to Bt toxins will be
selected. An increase in the frequency of these mutations in
pest populations would decrease the efficacy of these genetically
modified plants, perhaps even rendering them ineffective.
In the face of this risk of resistance, a resistance management
strategy specifically adapted to transgenic plants was proposed
and has been operational in the US since 2000. It is difficult to
estimate the true efficacy of this strategy but, in 2006, six years
after its introduction, no increase in resistance level to Bt crops
has yet been recorded.
The use of entomopathogenic micro-organisms for regulatingthe populations of insect pests was first proposed at the endof the 19th Century by several pioneering scientists, includingLouis Pasteur. A large range of micro-organisms such as bacteria,viruses, fungi and protozoans have since been identifiedas potential candidates for use in biocontrol strategies againstinsect pests (Riba and Silvy, 1989). Given the undesirable effectsof chemical insecticides and public health problems intropical countries, these biopesticides – which also present theadvantage of having only a minor impact on the environment– have come to occupy a stable, although modest position inthe insecticide market. The biopesticide market currently accountsfor 2% of the worldwide crop protection market ofabout 600 million US dollars, with about 90% of all biopesticidesales involving products based on Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt). There are many reasons for this success: the larvicidalactivity of Bt is rapid but sustained, Bt can be appliedwith standard equipment and its effects on beneficial insectsand non-target organisms are negligible. The advantages of Bthave not escaped biotech companies, which began introducingBt genes into many crop plants, including cotton and maize,at the end of the 1980s. The insertion of these genes leads tothe production of Bt toxins in various tissues, protecting theplant against attacks by several highly damaging pests. How-ever, the use of these transgenic crops remains highly controversial
in Europe, but is increasing year after year over the
world. Hence, the cultivation of transgenic plants expressing
genetically modified Bt genes has increased considerably in
recent years, reaching more than 32 million hectares worldwide
in 2006 (James, 2006). This expansion of the area under
Bt crops has greatly increased the selection pressure exerted
on the pests targeted by the toxins, increasing the risk
that mutations conferring greater tolerance to Bt toxins will be
selected. An increase in the frequency of these mutations in
pest populations would decrease the efficacy of these genetically
modified plants, perhaps even rendering them ineffective.
In the face of this risk of resistance, a resistance management
strategy specifically adapted to transgenic plants was proposed
and has been operational in the US since 2000. It is difficult to
estimate the true efficacy of this strategy but, in 2006, six years
after its introduction, no increase in resistance level to Bt crops
has yet been recorded.
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