Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is more than a special agent for biological control of pests

The impact of secondary pests on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops.

The intensification of agriculture and the development of synthetic insecticides enabled worldwide grain production to more than double in the last third of the 20th century. However, the heavy dependence and, in some cases, overuse of insecticides has been responsible for negative environmental and ecological impacts across the globe, such as a reduction in biodiversity, insect resistance to i...

Bt a short history of Bacillus thuringiensis

Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Rice Is Safer to Aquatic Ecosystems than Its Non-Transgenic Counterpart

Rice lines genetically modified with the crystal toxin genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have experienced rapid development, with biosafety certificates for two Bt rice lines issued in 2009. There has still been no commercial release of these lines yet due to public concerns about human health and environmental risks. Some studies confirmed that Bt rice was as safe as conventional rice to ...

Biological Control of Mosquito Larvae by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis

Chemical insecticides provide many benefits to food production and human health and has proven very effective at increasing agriculture and forestry productivities. However, they also pose some hazards as contamination of water and food sources, poisoning of non-target fauna and flora, concentration in the food chain and selection of insect pest populations resistent to the chemical insecticide...

Bacillus thuringiensis – Based Biopesticides Against Agricultural Pests in Latin America