Bacillus thuringiensis-based Products for Insect Pest Control

Bacillus thuringiensis (or Bt, as it has become generally known) is one of the oldest and widely used biological control agents and has a long history of use. Bt and a number of related bacteria produce a variety of toxins, mostly—but not exclusively- localized in the parasporal crystals, which are, together with the spores themselves, the components of the typical spore/crystal mixtures. These are used to control insect pests in agricultural crops. While Bt products quietly kept holding the first place in biological pesticide sales, interest in Bt was increased by the production and commercialization of transgenic crop plants expressing one or more Bt toxins since 1996. Here I will present a brief overview of the history, biology, and practical uses of Bt and its toxins.