BT is a gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that has gained significant attention and use in agriculture and pest management. It is a naturally occurring soil bacterium found in various habitats worldwide. Genetic engineering techniques have been employed to enhance the insecticidal properties of BT. Genes have been isolated from BT and introduced into crop plants, resulting in genetically modified crops with built-in resistance to certain insect pests. These crops, such as BT cotton and BT corn, have demonstrated effective control of target pests, reducing the reliance on chemical insecticides.
BT is widely recognized for its ability to control a broad range of insect pests. The crystal proteins produced by Bt are toxic to certain insect larvae. Upon ingestion, the crystal proteins are activated by the alkaline pH of the insect’s gut, leading to their solubilization and subsequent release of toxin molecules.
One of the major advantages of BT is its selectivity. Different strains of BT produce crystal proteins that are specific to certain insect orders, families, or species. This specificity allows for effective pest control while minimizing the impact on non-target organisms, making BT an environmentally friendly alternative to broad-spectrum chemical insecticides.
BT is considered an environmentally friendly pest management tool due to its highly specific mode of action and low toxicity to non-target organisms. It has been extensively used in organic agriculture and is compatible with sustainable farming practices. BT breaks down rapidly in the environment, and its use poses minimal risks to ecosystems and human health.
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