Screening of New 'B. thuringiensis' Strains for Integrated Pest Management inCosta Rica. Final Report Covering Period September 1988-December 1992

摘要

A 4-year collaborative biological insecticide development program to improvestrains of Bacillus thuringiensis (a naturally occurring bacterium) was undertaken from 9/88-12/92 by Ecogen Israel Partnership (EIP), Inc. in Jerusalem, Israel, and a team of scientists at the University of San Jose, Costa Rica. Efforts were focused on three major pests of vegetable crops, and primarily on old-world bollworm (Heliothis armigera), Egyptian leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis), and diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), which are devastating pests of cruciferous and solaneous vegetables. The main accomplishments of the project were the identification of useful Bt-based biopesticides, their improvement by genetic manipulation, and the targeting of those strains towards major pests that in the future will have to be controlled by biorational means. The close collaboration between the two teams will create the foundation for highly qualified research in Costa Rica where scientists are eager to make progress in such a prominent area.