crystals mixture of Bt strains (containing 6 Â 10
9 CFU/mg). After drying and milling
by jet mil, the quality indexes including suspensability, wettability, durability and
the LC 50 values against pests were measured for different treatments. The best
treatment for YD5 and KH4 strains had 73 and 71% suspender, and 25 and 24%
wettable agents, respectively. The LC 50 values of the selected formulations for YD5
and KH4 strains against cotton bollworm larvae were 550 and 510 ng/cm
2 , indicating the efficiency of the selected formulations (Salehi Jouzani et al. 2011).
10.12 Bt Based Bio-insecticides
The most widely produced microbial control agents in Iran are based on different
strains of B. thuringiensis (Moosavi and Zare 2016). Several Bt-based products have
been registered and developed in Iran with the aim of controlling agricultural pests
and also mosquitoes as the vectors of human diseases. Three Iranian companies;
Nature Biotechnology Company (Biorun), Mehr Asia Biotechnology Company, and
Green Biotechnology Company, produce Bt-based bio-insecticides in Iran (Karimi
et al. 2019). The registered products are mainly based on the spores and crystals of
B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, lepidopteran active bio-insecticide. Other Bt-based
insecticides composed of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis active against dipterans,
B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis and B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni toxic for
coleopterans have also been developed in Iran (Karimi et al. 2019). The commercial
bio-pesticides based on Bt are reviewed here.
Bactospein is the first local bio-insecticide, registered in Iran based on Bt and
formulated as 90% wettable powder. This bio-insecticide preliminarily used against
the forest insect pests (Marzban 2012a). Later, the insecticidal activity of Bactospein
was evaluated against different lepidopterans including, Tortrix viridana (Lep.:
Tortricidae), H. armigera, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lep.: Crambidae), Lymantria dispar
(Lep.: Erebidae) and P. interpunctella (Marzban 2012a).
Bithiran® is based on the B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis, produced and
registered by Mehr Asia Biotechnology Company. The effect of this commercial
Bt-based product has been evaluated against the elm leaf beetle, X. luteola, as one of
the most important pests of elm trees in Iran. The bioassay results showed that
Bithiran could effectively control third instar larvae and adults of X. luteola under the
laboratory conditions (Hajialiloo et al. 2016). Bithurin® is another bio-insecticide
based on the B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, produced by Mehr Asia Biotechnology
Company. This bio-insecticide is active against lepidopteran larvae (Karimi et al.
2019).
The Nature Biotechnology Company with the Biorun brand has been registered
and indeed produces two important Bt-based bio-insecticides; Biolep® suspension
concentrate and Biolep® wettable powder formulations. Both of these products are a
mixture of spores and crystals of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, but formulated in
two different formulations. Biolep is active against different lepidopteran pests
including agricultural and forest pests. BioBeet® is also produced by the same
10 Progress on the Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and Its. . .
421
9 CFU/mg). After drying and milling
by jet mil, the quality indexes including suspensability, wettability, durability and
the LC 50 values against pests were measured for different treatments. The best
treatment for YD5 and KH4 strains had 73 and 71% suspender, and 25 and 24%
wettable agents, respectively. The LC 50 values of the selected formulations for YD5
and KH4 strains against cotton bollworm larvae were 550 and 510 ng/cm
2 , indicating the efficiency of the selected formulations (Salehi Jouzani et al. 2011).
10.12 Bt Based Bio-insecticides
The most widely produced microbial control agents in Iran are based on different
strains of B. thuringiensis (Moosavi and Zare 2016). Several Bt-based products have
been registered and developed in Iran with the aim of controlling agricultural pests
and also mosquitoes as the vectors of human diseases. Three Iranian companies;
Nature Biotechnology Company (Biorun), Mehr Asia Biotechnology Company, and
Green Biotechnology Company, produce Bt-based bio-insecticides in Iran (Karimi
et al. 2019). The registered products are mainly based on the spores and crystals of
B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, lepidopteran active bio-insecticide. Other Bt-based
insecticides composed of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis active against dipterans,
B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis and B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni toxic for
coleopterans have also been developed in Iran (Karimi et al. 2019). The commercial
bio-pesticides based on Bt are reviewed here.
Bactospein is the first local bio-insecticide, registered in Iran based on Bt and
formulated as 90% wettable powder. This bio-insecticide preliminarily used against
the forest insect pests (Marzban 2012a). Later, the insecticidal activity of Bactospein
was evaluated against different lepidopterans including, Tortrix viridana (Lep.:
Tortricidae), H. armigera, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lep.: Crambidae), Lymantria dispar
(Lep.: Erebidae) and P. interpunctella (Marzban 2012a).
Bithiran® is based on the B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis, produced and
registered by Mehr Asia Biotechnology Company. The effect of this commercial
Bt-based product has been evaluated against the elm leaf beetle, X. luteola, as one of
the most important pests of elm trees in Iran. The bioassay results showed that
Bithiran could effectively control third instar larvae and adults of X. luteola under the
laboratory conditions (Hajialiloo et al. 2016). Bithurin® is another bio-insecticide
based on the B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, produced by Mehr Asia Biotechnology
Company. This bio-insecticide is active against lepidopteran larvae (Karimi et al.
2019).
The Nature Biotechnology Company with the Biorun brand has been registered
and indeed produces two important Bt-based bio-insecticides; Biolep® suspension
concentrate and Biolep® wettable powder formulations. Both of these products are a
mixture of spores and crystals of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, but formulated in
two different formulations. Biolep is active against different lepidopteran pests
including agricultural and forest pests. BioBeet® is also produced by the same
10 Progress on the Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and Its. . .
421