Tea pests and their management with bio-pesticides

Abstract

The increasing demand for higher productivity of tea, results in its intensive cultivation, which increases the pressure from insect pests on this crop. Chemical pesticides, irrespective of their toxicity status, are being extensively applied. Their various detrimental effects become apparent in the ecosystem including residues in made tea. Bio-control agents such as parasites, predators, and fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens have strong potential to act as effective alternatives to chemical pesticides. In this paper, an attempt has been made to compile all available information on biocontrol research on tea around the world as well as in lndia. This information will not only help to focus the possibility of using these agents against tea pests, but also will identify the gap of biopesticidal research for designing the future thrusts. Department of Biotechnology Government of lndia has played a catalytic role and supported several projects on the management of tea pests and diseases in Indian tea.