company, based on the B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis, active against coleopteran larvae. This product has not yet been registered (Karimi et al. 2019). Different
studies have evaluated the efficiency of Biolep under laboratory, greenhouse and
field conditions (Alsaedi et al. 2017). Bioflash® is a local bio-insecticide based on
the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (MH14) also produced by Nature Biotechnology Company (Biorun) in Iran. It is composed of a mixture of spores and crystals
of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (MH14) and manufactured as wettable powder
and granular formulations. The B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (MH14) was
isolated from an A. stepehensis larva by a research group led by Nasrin Moazami.
The larvicidal activity of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (MH14) has been
evaluated in the Qeshm Island (Moazami 1997). The efficiency of Bioflash® was
assessed against the immature stages of Anopheles spp. and Culex spp. under
laboratory, semi-field and field conditions (Gezelbash et al. 2014). The laboratory
assays resulted in 100% mortality of A. stephensi larvae at the concentration of
512 ppm after 24 h. While, the results of, semi-field and field tests indicated a
reduction in efficiency of Bioflash® granule and wettable powder formulations.
Therefore, further investigations are needed to improve the efficiency of this local
bio-insecticide (Gezelbash et al. 2014).
Rouin-2 is another Bt-based insecticide produced as a wettable powder by Green
Biotechnology Company. This formulation is based on spores and crystals of
B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (AzLp Bt strain) isolated from infected lepidopteran
larvae by Khorramnejad et al. (2018).
The commercially available Bt insecticides are claimed by the respective companies to control many lepidopteran insect species including; H. armigera,
H. viriplaca, O. nubilalis, Spodoptera spp., Pieris spp., Plutella xylostella,
T. absoluta, Chilo suppressalis, Yponomeuta malinellus, Lobesia botrana, Porthesia
melania, Leucoma wiltshirei, Lymantria dispar, Batrachedra amydraula,
Hyphanteria cunea and Cydalima perspectalis.
10.13 Bt Crops
Management of agricultural pests solely relying on the sprayable products based on
Bt is insufficient due to several constraints. Bt formulations are generally sensitive to
UV radiation and have limited activity against boring and sucking insects. These are
the main restrictions of Bt sprays. The incorporation of Bt genes into agricultural
crops has resulted in the production of insect-resistant crops providing an effective
strategy to control the agricultural pests. In Iran, as shown in Fig. 10.6, different Bt
synthetic genes have been transferred into the different plants, mainly rice
(Ghareyazie et al. 1997; Mousavi et al. 2007; Kiani et al. 2009a, b, 2012), cotton
(Tohidfar et al. 2005), potato (Salehi Jouzani et al. 2008a), sugar beet (Jafari et al.
2007, 2009a; Norouzi et al. 2011), alfalfa (Zare et al. 2008), maize and date
(Tohidfar et al. 2008) by the aim of developing the transgenic plants with enhanced
422
A. Khorramnejad et al.
studies have evaluated the efficiency of Biolep under laboratory, greenhouse and
field conditions (Alsaedi et al. 2017). Bioflash® is a local bio-insecticide based on
the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (MH14) also produced by Nature Biotechnology Company (Biorun) in Iran. It is composed of a mixture of spores and crystals
of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (MH14) and manufactured as wettable powder
and granular formulations. The B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (MH14) was
isolated from an A. stepehensis larva by a research group led by Nasrin Moazami.
The larvicidal activity of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (MH14) has been
evaluated in the Qeshm Island (Moazami 1997). The efficiency of Bioflash® was
assessed against the immature stages of Anopheles spp. and Culex spp. under
laboratory, semi-field and field conditions (Gezelbash et al. 2014). The laboratory
assays resulted in 100% mortality of A. stephensi larvae at the concentration of
512 ppm after 24 h. While, the results of, semi-field and field tests indicated a
reduction in efficiency of Bioflash® granule and wettable powder formulations.
Therefore, further investigations are needed to improve the efficiency of this local
bio-insecticide (Gezelbash et al. 2014).
Rouin-2 is another Bt-based insecticide produced as a wettable powder by Green
Biotechnology Company. This formulation is based on spores and crystals of
B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (AzLp Bt strain) isolated from infected lepidopteran
larvae by Khorramnejad et al. (2018).
The commercially available Bt insecticides are claimed by the respective companies to control many lepidopteran insect species including; H. armigera,
H. viriplaca, O. nubilalis, Spodoptera spp., Pieris spp., Plutella xylostella,
T. absoluta, Chilo suppressalis, Yponomeuta malinellus, Lobesia botrana, Porthesia
melania, Leucoma wiltshirei, Lymantria dispar, Batrachedra amydraula,
Hyphanteria cunea and Cydalima perspectalis.
10.13 Bt Crops
Management of agricultural pests solely relying on the sprayable products based on
Bt is insufficient due to several constraints. Bt formulations are generally sensitive to
UV radiation and have limited activity against boring and sucking insects. These are
the main restrictions of Bt sprays. The incorporation of Bt genes into agricultural
crops has resulted in the production of insect-resistant crops providing an effective
strategy to control the agricultural pests. In Iran, as shown in Fig. 10.6, different Bt
synthetic genes have been transferred into the different plants, mainly rice
(Ghareyazie et al. 1997; Mousavi et al. 2007; Kiani et al. 2009a, b, 2012), cotton
(Tohidfar et al. 2005), potato (Salehi Jouzani et al. 2008a), sugar beet (Jafari et al.
2007, 2009a; Norouzi et al. 2011), alfalfa (Zare et al. 2008), maize and date
(Tohidfar et al. 2008) by the aim of developing the transgenic plants with enhanced
422
A. Khorramnejad et al.