Covering the research findings in various aspects of weed biocontrol, this volume explores weed biology and ecology and the economic impacts, effectiveness and practical implications of weed management strategies. It is of interest to researchers and students in plant and environmental sciences.

Microorganisms are widely used in various beneficial applications, including food, pest control, bioremediation, biodegradation, biofuel processes, and plant symbiosis and growth stimulation. This book provides an overview of the available methodology for safety assessments of microorganisms, including determination of their infectivity and whether they produce toxic or sensitizing substances. Also covered are the regulatory systems in risk assessment and management of microbial products, quarantine legislations, international treaties, the importance of public risk perception and risk reducti

This guide focuses on the most problematic weeds in eastern North America for which there are at least some biocontrol agents established and/or available. Multiple photos and descriptions of each weed included in this guide emphasize key identification traits and plant ecology. For each weed included in this guide, all biocontrol agents released or currently found in North America are described individually. Photos highlighting key identification features and damage are included. The release history, current status, and recommended use of each biocontrol agent are described in detail. Recommendations and current impact often vary between the US and Canada, therefore, the information is presented separately. Includes international code of best practices for classical biological control of weeds.

Weed populations in agriculture are a major cause of yield loss. Conventionally, crop rotation and tillage practices limit the number of weed flora. Several chemical herbicides are being applied to control weed growth, but the long-term use of those chemicals does not effectively control weeds, due to the development of resistant germplasms, which cause hazardous effects in living organisms. The global interest in organic farming endorses the alternative way of weed control against chemical herbicides. Recently, biological agents have been added to integrated weed management strategies. Several studies reveal that plant extracts, bacteria, fungi and their products effectively control weed seed germination and growth. The aim of this book is to discuss the current understanding of bioherbicides and strategies to weed control.

Insects are key components of life on our planet, and their presence is essential for maintaining balanced terrestrial ecosystems. Without insects humans would struggle to survive, and on a world scale food production would be severely compromised. Many plants and animals depend directly or indirectly on insects for their very survival, and this is particularly so in the case of insectivorous birds and other such creatures. The beneficial role of insects is often overlooked or misunderstood, and in farming circles their very presence on crops is often seen to be unwelcome. In reality, however, many insects are genuinely beneficial, as in the case of parasitic and predacious species. The use of chemical pesticides to control crop pests is becoming more tightly regulated and environmentally undesirable, and low-input farming, in which natural enemies of pests are encouraged to survive or increase, is becoming far more prevalent. Accordingly, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Pest Management (ICM) strategies are increasingly being developed, advocated and adopted. Features: Highlights information on many groups of insects and mites that act as natural enemies or biological control agents of phytophagous insects and mites, including plant pests. Profusely illustrated with high-quality colour photographs. Focuses mainly on insects and mites as natural enemies of plant pests, including parasitic and predacious species that have been accidentally or deliberately introduced in classical biological control programmes. Reviews the role of phytophagous European insects and mites in controlling or managing European plants that have become invasive weeds in other parts of the world, notably North America, Australia and New Zealand.

This book discusses the biological control of weeds using arthropods, providing ecological management models for use across the tropical world.

Biological Control: Global Impacts, Challenges and Future Directions of Pest Management provides a historical summary of organisms and main strategies used in biological control, as well as the key challenges confronting biological control in the 21st century. Biological control has been implemented for millennia, initially practised by growers moving beneficial species from one local area to another. Today, biological control has evolved into a formal science that provides ecosystem services to protect the environment and the resources used by humanity. With contributions from dedicated scientists and practitioners from around the world, this comprehensive book highlights important successes, failures and challenges in biological control efforts. It advocates that biological control must be viewed as a global endeavour and provides suggestions to move practices forward in a changing world. Biological Control is an invaluable resource for conservation specialists, pest management practitioners and those who research invasive species, as well as students studying pest management science.

Canada is a world leader in biological control research. Reporting the status of biocontrol agents released in Canada over the last decade, this book presents case studies by target pest that evaluate the impact of biocontrol and recommend future priorities. In addition to a new chapter on future targets and an appendix listing established agents, this edition contains information of interest to a global audience, and chapters that address effects of invasive species and climate change.

This book is a collection of chapters, concerning the developments within the Weed Biology and Control field of study. The book includes scholarly contributions by various authors pertinent to Agricultural and Biological Sciences. Each contribution comes as a separate chapter complete in itself but directly related to the book's topics and objectives. The target audience comprises scholars and specialists in the field.