SECTION –V

NANO INSECTICIDE FOR INSECT-PEST COTROL

13
IPM in Horticulture
Vageeshbabu S. Hanur

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an essential fulcrum of crop protection. Recently, there
has been an unprecedented interest in the application of IPM technologies in agriculture and
horticulture for the sustainable management of insect pests, diseases, weeds and other biotic
stresses. The widespread introduction and commercial cultivation of GM crops, especially of
Bt cotton in India and the world has resulted in the phenomenal improvements in productivity
and quality of GM crops. This has also resulted in visible improvement in social and economic
conditions of farmers who adopted GM technologies. However, there is a widespread resistance
against Bt and other GM transgenic technologies. Therefore, adoption of GM technologies has
been recommended to be implemented on a “precautionary principle” approach.

13.1. Uses of Nanotechnology in IPM in Horticulture

Nanotechnology is the next biggest horizon on the anvil of technology. Application of
nanotechnology in biotechnology has resulted in the creation of nanobiotechnology. Many
practical applications of nanobiotechnology are now envisaged in the form of DNA nanoarrays,
bioconjugation of nanoencapsulated particles, quantum dots-based detection, nanobiosensors
etc.
In this chater possibility of utilization of principles of nanobiotechnology in addressing some of
the crucial problems of pest management through the development of Bt biopesticide based
homogenous polymeric nanoparticle formulations have been discussed. However, outcome of
such projects will lead to the development of similar biopesticide, chemical pesticide and other
bioformulations widely applicable in horticulture. There are already known examples of pesticide
formulations that are based on microemulsion (such as Syngenta’s herbicide, Flex and Isagro’s
fungicide, Eminent) or microencapsulation technology (such as Syngenta’s insecticide, Karate
Zeon, and Dow Agroscience’s insecticide, Empire). However, some of the pesticide
192 Nenotechnology in Agriculture (Vol-6)

microemulsions have droplets in nanoscale range (50-100 nm). Some agro-companies may
also be carrying out R&D into the development of nano-forms of pesticides, veterinary medicines
and other agrochemicals. These promised nanotechnology-based pesticide formulations have
been hailed for safety in handling, controlled delivery, better dispersions in water and potential
reduction in the use of active ingredients due to better administration into pests, plants and
animals. However, with environmental behaviour, distribution and fate of nanoparticles are
currently not fully understood nor estimated, it is difficult to assess whether such chemical
conjugated nanoparticle pesticides in environment will bioaccumulate in food chain. Many
chemical compounds are substantially insoluble in water. Dissolution of active agents in solvents
is an approach which is used both for delivery of pesticides onto crops and for preparation of
water-immiscible drugs for in vivo delivery.
This approach becomes problematic for pesticides which, unlike pharmaceutical agents used
in low concentrations, require relatively high concentrations of active agent for pest control,
and accordingly a large amount of solvents for dissolution. Further, typically, the solvents used
are not environmentally acceptable and pose potential health and safety risks during handling
and application. Current technologies for delivering insoluble agents involve either use of
microemulsions or lipophilic carriers forming a stabilized emulsions. For these processes and
formulations, the problems are aplenty. Certain particles in suspension tend to grow over time
because of the “Oswald ripening” phenomenon. Secondly, many insoluble agents do not show
appreciable solubility within traditional oil emulsion systems due to factors that involve dipole-
dipole interactions, ionic stabilization and atom-to-atom interactions. In chemical pesticide
based nanoparticles, such problems are non (or minimally) existent. Still, the problems of
bioaccumulation, chemical hazards and overall unfriendliness to users and environment nag
chemical pesticide-based nanoparticles. Biopesticide-based nanoparticles score tremendously
over chemical pesticide-based nanoparticles in these issues.
Various biopesticide macromolecules, mainly proteins, are extensively researched worldwide
against insect pests, bacteria, fungi, viruses, nematodes and mycoplasmas. Bt proteins,
antimicrobial peptides, chitinases, glucanases, R gene products, antivirals and other proteins
have demonstrated their pesticidal efficacies. Most of these proteins have originally been isolated
from various microbes, plants and animals. A number of genetic improvements have also been
applied to maximize the efficiencies, as in Bt proteins. All these can now effectively be used in
production of nanoparticles and fully integrated in a seamless manner in IPM in agriculture.
The Bacillus thuringiensis based Bt protein biopesticide is a very effective and commercially
successful product in crop protection. This biopesticide has been in use since early 1930s
globally. Although a number of public and private sector firms are selling Bt formulations
nationally and internationally, they all suffer from the inherent weaknesses in formulations. Bt
transgenic crops have also been developed that express this protein and these Bt GM crops
have been commercially successful worldwide for the last 15 years. However, development,
testing and commercialization of GM crops is a long process with risks associated with gene
expression, horizontal gene transfer and public acceptance. Besides, GM technology cannot
be practically extended to perennial horticultural crops and crops in which transformation
 IPM in Horticulture 193

systems are presently not available. Bt biopesticide nanoparticle formulation technology (shortly
called hereinafter as Nano-Bt) is an advanced version of presently available biopesticide
formulations and hence is also a part of organic farming practices. Nano-Bt technology integrates
the advantages of three powerful and revolutionary applications into one (Fig. 13.1).

Biopesticides

Nano
-Bt

Biotechnology Nanotechnology

Fig 13.1: Integration of three revolutionary areas into Nano-Bt

Nano-Bt technology can offer many advantages over Bt transgenic technology on a point-by-
point basis (Table 13.1). The basic principle on which nano-Bt technology operates is simplified
and forms a working replica of the idea used in the drug delivery in therapeutics and healthcare
industry. The Nano-Bt is the directed delivery of biopesticide toxins (proteins or any other
form thereof) into the digestive systems of the specific pests. It is a highly effective mechanism
of delivery of most commercially successful biopesticide, Bt protein, for example. Owing to
many advantages of nanotechnology, nano-Bt technology can offer many technological
advantages too (Table 13.2). More specifically, Bt based biopesticide nanotechnology can
significantly bring about many technical advantages in its commercialization (Box 13.1).
Table 13.1: Comparative advantages of nano-Bt over Bt transgenics and conventional biopesticides

Parameter Bt transgenic technology Nano-Bt technology Biopesticides

Social acceptability Low Very high Very high

GMO labeling requirement Needed Not needed Not needed
Role in organic farming Excluded Included Included
Biosafety requirements Stringent None None
Product Development Period Longer Quicker Medium
Genetic interactions Pleiotropic None None
Consumer awareness Needed Not needed Not needed
Commercial value Very high Very high Medium
Scope for continuous improvement High High Average
194 Nenotechnology in Agriculture (Vol-6)

Table 13.2: Technological advantages of Nano-Bt

High stability (longer shelf life) of the biopesticides

High carrier capacity (many biopesticides into a single system)
Feasibility of flexible formulations
Multiple routes of application
Increased versatility
Efficient cellular uptake and therefore lowest application doses
No systemic barriers and therefore pointed action
Reduced adverse effects
Overall reduction in costs and increased efficiency of action
Amenability for continuous genetic and technical improvements

BOX 13.1: ADVANTAGES OF Nano-Bt FORMULATIONS

• Stabilized – enhanced activities and potency even under adverse field conditions and harsh internal
gut conditions of the pest
• Delivery – Delivery of engineered Bt proteins is precise, continuous and controlled release
• Efficient – with high potency, lower LC90 values and optimized kinetic parameters of Bt protein
insecticidal function
• Useability – Ultra high dosages can be delivered in smallest volumes
• User friendly – Easier adoption by farmers
Purely organic farming; no GMOs involved
• Biosafety and Food safety compliant
• Applicability – This technology is extendable to other bio/chemical pesticide formulations
• This technology is amenable to chemical, cultural and biotech modifications
• No source of contamination
• Easy commercializability of the technology

Earlier findings have clearly indicated that polymeric nanoparticle encapsulation is a more
potent route of drug delivery in human beings and pesticide delivery in pests. Utilizing the
benefits of nanoparticle technologies, Bt based biopesticide polymeric nanoparticle formulations
can be developed using highly potent and synthetically engineered Bt protein combinations
with different protein-particle configurations. Different biochemical adjuvants will also facilitate
the potentiation of formulations in terms of lethality, mode of action, delivery and shelf-life.
The Bt polymeric nanoparticle formulations so developed can be tested on important pests in
major horticultural crops and made more efficient through continuous modifications based on
careful monitoring and evaluation regimes.
A number of variables operate in characterizing the system of biopesticide conjugated
nanotechnology (Table 13.3). Nanomaterials can be bulk-structured, surface structured or
particle structured. In bulk type, they can be on single or multiphase; in surface structured
type, they can be designed on plain surface or film type. In nanoparticle structures which are
more relevant here, the particles can be surface bound, suspended (in liquid or solid) or air-
borne. Various parameters of nanoparticle technology are taken into consideration including
chemical composition, size, shape, crystal structure, surface area, surface chemistry, surface
charge, solubility and adhesive properties. The carrier material itself can range in terms of
 IPM in Horticulture 195

biocompatibility, metal/non-metal compound, environmental compatibility, uniformity in shape,

size, charge and physico-chemical properties. The conjugated part which forms the biological
material is most important part of system. In this case, it includes various forms of biopesticidal
compounds, mostly macromolecules. Various combinations in terms of different proteins,
genetic alleles of proteins (as created by site directed mutagenesis and protein engineering),
can be generated.

Table 13.3: System variables for R&D and commercialization of Nano-Bt

Variable Components

Nanoparticles Various parameters like bulk, surface or particles, single or multi phase, structured surface or
structured film, surface bound, suspended (in liquid or solid) or air-borne; properties like
chemical composition, size, shape, crystal structure, surface area, surface chemistry, surface
charge, solubility and adhesion
Bioconjugate Biopesticide (many biopesticidal compounds and combinations thereof)
Bt protein Different types of Bt proteins, viz. Cry1A, Cry1B, Cry2A, Cry1F etc.
Application Various spray formulations
Pyramiding Combinatorial conjugation of two or more biopesticide molecules
Physical improvement Nanoparticle technology and delivery technology
Biochemical improvement Protein engineering, Differential display, fusion

For example, different biopesticide proteins like Bt protein, chitinases, glucanases, antimicrobial
(antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and nematicidal) proteins and peptides, receptors, resistance
(R) and avr gene products, hrp proteins, porins, quorum sensors, antitoxins, etc. singly or in
combinations. Combinations may include simple physical mixtures of nanoparticles or molecularly
fused pyramiding of two or more biopesticide macromolecules. The technology also calls for
various physical and biochemical improvements. Development of homogenous polymeric
nanoparticle encapsulation formulations using highly optimized technology is a key consideration.
Most notably, in terms of biochemical properties, site-directed mutagenesis mediated protein
or enzyme engineering, differential display, domain swapping and fusions, protein targeting,
post-translational modifications and other molecular improvements play an important role in
biopesticide nanotechnology.
Once the biopesticide nanoparticles are developed, in vitro and field testing of particles is an
essential ingredient in technology making. Plant protection sciences like entomology and pathology
will play a significant role along with biotechnology in assessing the success of product
development. In final stage of commercialization, it is additional combination of field extension
science which can efficiently translate biopesticide nanotechnology farmers’ fields since
awareness, acceptance and implementation of biopesticide nanotechnology by the farming
community holds the overall successful transformation of this novel technology.
Various issues need to be understood and addressed in a comprehensive manner in biopesticide
nanotechnology (Table 13.4). In the background of extensive resistance and concerns by
various groups including NGOs, private firms and all consumers on the commercialization of
Bt brinjal, and subsequent declaration of moratorium by the Government, it is always wise to
196 Nenotechnology in Agriculture (Vol-6)

take an approach of precautionary principle in terms of commercialization of (biopesticide)

nanotechnology in India too. Understanding, evaluating and preventing the real or imagined
threats borne out of bionanotechnology should be permitted highest priority with sound regulatory
frameworks. Strategic research programs globally should be able to face challenges and attempt
to maximize benefits while minimizing risks. Bionanotechnology is no exception to this cautious
approach. Stimulating public-private collaborations and open-mind action can bring about safe
bionanotechnogy.

Table 13.4: Current issues deemed to be important in biopesticide nanotechnology

Issue Remarks

Innovations
Environmental safety and biosafety
Idea as a part of organic farming
Adequacy of regulatory frameworks
Interdisciplinary research
Extension as a market driver
Strong basic and applied research in biotechnology and nanotechnology needed
New in terms of bionanotechnology. Needs to be worked out.
Awareness that this technology can be an essential ingredient of organic farming
Inadequate. Needs policy frameworks for a comprehensive regulation
Inherently woven in technology and is the essential ingredient
Awareness, acceptance and implementation by farming community wholly depends
on the success of effective extension

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