Biocontrol is defined as the control of pest populations by naturally occurring organisms and environmental factors, without human input. It is a component of an integrated pest management strategy. Natural enemies of insect pests, also known as biological control agents include microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, predators, parasitoids etc. Biocontrol is the long-term solution for management of invasive plants. Over time, when using biological control, other treatment methods become increasingly unnecessary, and may not eventually needed. It is desirable to decrease the amount of herbicide applied to the environment (or potentially applied in the future) and to decrease economic losses and costs for control. Each biocontrol agent attacks its host in a specific manner. The visible symptoms of attack may be damaged leaves, flowers, stems or roots and/or wilting, discoloration, dropping of leaves, reduced numbers and viability of seeds, and retarded growth or flowering periods. The factors used for recording biocontrol agent presence for data entry into the Invasive Alien Plant Program (IAPP) Application. There are three broad (somewhat overlapping) types of biological control: classical biological control, Importation and augmentation. In Importation (or "classical biological control") involves the introduction biological control agent where they do not occur naturally. Augmentation involves the supplemental release of natural enemies, boosting the naturally occurring population and the conservation of existing natural enemies in an environment is the third method of biological pest control.
In this issue, a review on the importance of mushroom to the environs and other interesting articles about microbial biocontrol agents are included.
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Prof. N. Munuswamy
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National Tree Day, September 25th,2013
ENVIS Centre Team
Prof.
N. Munuswamy
Co-ordinator
Dr. V. Krishnakumar
Scientist –D
Mr. P. Thirumurugan
Programme Officer
Mr. D. Siva Arun
Programme Asstt.
Mr. R. Ramesh
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Editorial
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Prof. N. Munuswamy
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