Question

The microbial biocontrol agent for butterfly caterpillars is?
A. Bacillus thuringiensis
B. Saccharomyces
C. Staphylococcus
D. Cyanobacteria

Answer 1

Hint: The term biocontrol indicates the use of biological methods for controlling pests and plant diseases. The increasing use of insecticides and pesticides problems have been tackled in technically advanced cities. It is also causing soil erosion. Excessive use of pesticides and insecticides is harmful to human beings and animals.

Complete answer: Bacillus thuringiensis: Microbial biocontrol agents were introduced to control butterfly caterpillars is the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. These are available in markets in sachets as dried spores, which are mixed with water and sprayed onto unsafe plants such as brassicas and fruit trees. When they are consumed by insect larvae, in the gut of the insect's larvae, the poison is released, and the larvae will get killed. The bacterial disease will kill the caterpillars. But it leaves another insect safe because of genetic engineering development because ten years or so ago, a scientist has introduced B. Thuringiensis poisonous gene into plants. These plants are resistant to attack by insect pests. Bt-cotton is one such example. It is used in some states of our country.
Saccharomyces: saccharomyces is a species of yeast. It is used in the bakery to ferment bread, dough, etc. It is also used in pre-fermented beer to produce ethanol.
Staphylococcus: Staphylococcus is a human germ; it causes skin diseases.
Cyanobacteria: it is also called blue-green algae. It helps in nitrogen fixation and produces organic substances to maintain soil fertility.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note:
Bacillus thuringiensis is used as an insecticide in the markets. It becomes an essential industrial microbe. The paraspinal body that acts as a microbial insecticide for a specific insect group. The manufacture of Bt begins with a growth of Bacillus thuringiensis in fermenters, these toxins are used to the insect as a vegetative cell, but during sporulation, it produces an intracellular protein toxin crystal. It is generally used to modify a plant genetically.