Trends of microbial pesticides biotechnology developed for plant protection in Russia.

The article is devoted to formation and development of Russian research in microbial pesticides for pest insect and plant disease control. Historical, scientific and social aspects have been briefly reviewed. Great Russian microbiologist Elie Metchnikoff wasthe first who proposed to use natural entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae as a basis of microbial insecticide for plant protection. This discovery began the era of microbial pesticide biotechnology all over the world. In Russia, a new wave of interest to ecologically safe microbial pesticides has been arose in the middle of the XX century due to the organization of All-Russian (then All-Union) Institute for Plant Protection (Saint-Petersburg). First of all, bacterial insecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were developed, tested and registered for commercial use, including Dendrobacillin® (Bt subsp. dendrolimus) and Entobacterin® (Bt subsp. galleriae). Later, Lepidocid® based on Bt subsp. kurstaki and Bitoxibacillin® based on Bt subsp. thuringiensis were developed. Now these two microbial pesticides are widely used for plant protection in agriculture and forestry. Due to two bacterial toxins contained in Bitoxibacillin® it is active both for Lepidopteran and Coleopteran insects. Fungi causing insect diseases are also important for microbial control. In 1960-1980, Russian researchers developed the fungal insecticides based on Conidiobolus obscura and Conidiobolus thromboides, although these pesticides were not widely used. Microbial insecticides based on fungi of Beauveria and Lecanicillium genera are of more interest for plant protection, especially in greenhouses. Baculoviruses as the most ecologically safe natural agents of microbial insect control were actively studied by Russian scientists in the second half of the XXcentury. The viral insecticides based on nucleopolyhedroviruses of Mamestra brassicae, Lymantria dispar, Lymantria monacha and Neodiprion sertifer as well as based on granulovirus Cydia pomonella, Pieris brassicae, Pyrausta sticticalis, Agrotis segetum and Dendrolimus sibiricus were developed and registered in the 1970-1980. However, no Russian viral insecticides have been presented so far in Russian Catalogue of registered pesticides for commercial use. As to microbial pesticides for plant disease control, the first one based on Trichoderma viride was developed in Russia in the middle of the XX century. Later, bacterial pesticides based on Pseudomonas and Bacillus genera started to compete with fungal ones. The first bacterial preparations were Planriz® based on P. fluorescens and Bactophyt® based on B. subtilis. Together with other bacterial fungicides, such as Pseudobacterin-2® and Phytosporin®, these biotechnological products are widely used for plant disease control in Russia. The microbial pesticides are produced not only by large-scale factories but also by small firms and biological laboratories as well. The conception of small-scale regional biotechnological production proposed by research leaders and supported by the government at the end of the last century helped to intensify the use of microbial pesticides in agriculture. In order to improve the biotechnological products, the further research in selection of natural agents, their interaction with targets and the environment and formulations of microbial agents should be carried out. Governmental and financial support could supply successful realization of Russian achievements concerning the biotechnology of microbial pesticides for plant protection in agriculture and forestry.

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