Ru. Ehlers, CURRENT AND FUTURE USE OF NEMATODES IN BIOCONTROL - PRACTICE AND COMMERCIAL ASPECTS WITH REGARD TO REGULATORY POLICY ISSUES, Biocontrol science and technology, 6(3), 1996, pp. 303-316
Constraints about the use of chemical insecticides have limited the av
ailability of control measures against soil-borne insect pests. Entomo
pathogenic nematodes of the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis pro
vide an environmentally safe and economically reasonable alternative.
Their life cycle and current production, storage and formulation techn
ology are described. An overview of their safety, use in integrated pe
st management and current market potential (> US$10 million in 1994) i
s also given. The costs of research and development efforts and the sc
ale-up of production technologies are discussed in relation to the cur
rent and future market potential. Large-scale, outdoor application wil
l require additional scientific and technical progress in the areas of
production storage, formulation and application. Besides public findi
ng, the current niche markets will need to provide the financial basis
for further development, provided that regulatory conditions will not
limit the exploitation of the nematodes' market potential. it is reco
mmended that nematodes should be exempted from registration. Rules for
risk assessment in the use of exotic nematodes should be internationa
lly harmonized and related specifically to the biology and ecology of
these nematodes. The volume of current markets would not justify the c
osts of registration procedures currently required for chemical or mic
robial insecticides or genetically engineered organisms. Regulatory po
licies should aim at supporting the further introduction of entomopath
ogenic nematodes as biocontrol agents.