Increasing ecological heterogeneity can constrain biopesticide resistance evolution

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Entomology
• Pest Management
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Microbial biopesticides offer promising crop protection against insect pests.
• Resistance evolution in insect pests poses a significant threat to biopesticide efficacy.
• The fitness of resistance alleles is often dependent on parasite and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a sustainable strategy for managing biopesticide resistance.
• To explore the role of landscape diversification in mitigating resistance evolution.
• To advocate for increased diversity in biocontrol products and agricultural landscapes.

Main Methods:

• The study discusses theoretical approaches to resistance management.
• It analyzes the context-specificity of parasite-resistance interactions.
• It advocates for landscape-wide crop heterogeneity and diverse biopesticide use.

Main Results:

• Resistance evolution to microbial biopesticides is a key challenge.
• The fitness of resistance alleles is context-dependent (parasite identity, environment).
• Landscape diversification and varied biopesticide use can manage resistance.

Conclusions:

• Landscape diversification is a viable strategy for sustainable biopesticide resistance management.
• Prioritizing diversity in agricultural landscapes and biocontrol markets is crucial.
• Integrating diverse crop and biocontrol strategies enhances long-term pest control.