Scientists have known since the 1890s that insects are vulnerable to diseases. However, it was not until the early 1950s that field demonstrations by Steinhouse in California led to the commercial production of biopesticides. The federal government registered the first microbial product in 1948, the bacterium Bacillus popillae, to control the Japanese beetle in turf. Although many entomopathoge...

Intensive agricultural practices and use of pesticides, essential to achieve high crop yields, present particular risks to soil and water resources which sustain life. Degradation and sorption of pesticides in soils are both spatially variable and also among the most sensitive factors determining losses to surface water and groundwater. Currently, no general guidance is available on suitable ap...

Pesticides based on microorganisms and their products have proven to be highly effective, species specific and eco-friendly in nature, leading to their adoption in pest management strategies around the world. The microbial biopesticide market constitutes about 90% of total biopesticides and there is ample scope for further development in agriculture and public health, although there are challen...

INTRODUCTION In intensive agriculture areas the use of pesticides can alter soil properties and microbial community structure with the risk of reducing soil quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) evolution has been studied in a factorial lab experiment combining five substrates (a soil, two aged composts and their mixtures) treated with a co-applicat...

Apple orchard surface soils in Japan are polluted with copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) due to long-term use of metal-based pesticides. We investigated the effects of heavy metals accumulated in the surface soils in apple orchards on the microbial biomass and the microbial communities. Soil samples were taken from a chestnut orchard (unpolluted control) and five apple orchards with diff...