Biotechnological Applications in Environment and Agriculture

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Environmental impacts of agricultural biotechnology. 3. Biopesticides biotechnology and traditional breeding. 4. Apomixis and terminator biotechnology in agri biodiversity. 5. Microbial pesticides: history and long term regulatory strategy. 6. Basic concept of sustainable agriculture. 7. Biotechnology in agriculture forestry and fisheries. 8. Control of fungal plant pathogens in agricultural biotechnology. 9. Biotechnological tools for increasing productivity of pulse crops. 10. Biological test of soil fertility. Bibliography. Index.

According to the biotechnology industry the promise of transgenic crops inserted with Bt genes is that they will replace synthetic insecticides now used to control insect pests. Most crops have a diversity of insect pests and therefore insecticides will still have to be applied to control non Lepidoptera pests which are not susceptible to the Bt toxin expressed by the crop. In order to delay the inevitable development of insects resistant to Bt crops bioengineers are preparing resistance management plans using patchworks of transgenic and non transgenics to delay the evolution of resistance by providing susceptible insects for mating with resistant insects. This book provides students with a basic understanding of the concepts that contribute to agricultures biotechnology revolution. This information enables students to engage and utilize the texts science based content and research activities. (jacket)