Host spectrum of Bacillus thuringiensis

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 15 - 19
• Main Authors: Drummond, Jane, Pinnock, Dudley E.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.1994; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS; BACTERIAL PESTICIDES; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Control; CONTROL DE PLAGAS; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invertebrates; LUTTE ANTIRAVAGEUR; PEST CONTROL; PESTICIDE BACTERIEN; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; PLAGUICIDAS BACTERIANOS; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Entomopathogen; Animal microorganism relation; Toxicity; Bacillus thuringiensis; Biological control; Microbial pesticide; Review; Bacillaceae; Bacillales; Pest management; Host range; Bacteria; Invertebrata; Microbial insecticide
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-8809(94)90015-9

The known host range of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is constantly expanding with the large amount of commercial interest and the extensive screening programs presently in progress. Although many strains are toxic to lepidoptera, other strains are known which are toxic to beetles, dipteran larvae especially mosquitoes, lice, mites and nematodes. The crystal or δ-endotoxin and the exotoxin or thuringiensin are the best known toxins, but there are other toxins, as yet unidentified, responsible for the pathogenicity to some hosts e.g. lice.