Baculoviruses are pathogens that attack insects and other arthropods. The majority of the baculoviruses used as biological control agents belong to which genus?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) - Nucleopolyhedrovirus
Baculoviruses are pathogens that attack insects and other arthropods. The majority of baculoviruses used as biological control agents are in the genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus. These viruses are excellent candidates for species-specific, narrow spectrum insecticidal applications. They have been shown to have no negative impacts on plants, mammals, birds, fish or even on non-target insects. This is especially desirable when beneficial insects are being conserved to aid in an overall integrated pest management (IPM) programme, or when an ecologically sensitive area is being treated.
Penicillin was the first antibiotic to be discovered by Alexaner Fleming. Penicillin is produced by the mould Penicillium notatum.
An example of microbial biocontrol agents that can be introduced in order to control butterfly caterpillars is the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (often written as Bt ). Because of the development of methods of genetic engineering in the last decade or so, the scientists have introduced B. thuringiensis toxin genes into plants. Such plants are resistant to attack by insect pests.