National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The increasing global demand for sustainable agricultural production has intensified the search for Eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Entomovectoring has emerged as an innovative biological approach that integrates crop pollination with biological control by utilizing pollinating insects as carriers of beneficial microorganisms. In this technology, managed pollinators such as Honeybees (Apis mellifera), Bumble bees (Bombus spp.), Mason bees (Osmia spp.), and other floral visitors disseminate microbial biological control agents directly onto flowers during their natural foraging activities. This targeted delivery system enhances pollination efficiency while simultaneously suppressing important plant pathogens and certain insect pests. Compared with conventional pesticide application, entomovectoring requires lower quantities of biological control agents, minimizes environmental contamination, reduces labour costs, and ensures repeated deposition of microbial inoculum throughout the flowering period. Over the past three decades, the technology has been successfully implemented in several horticultural and field crops including strawberry, blueberry, tomato, sunflower, canola, pear, apple, raspberry, coffee, sweet pepper, cucumber, and cherry. Various microbial agents such as Clonostachys rosea, Trichoderma harzianum, Gliocladium catenulatum, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Bacillus subtilis, and Pantoea agglomerans have demonstrated remarkable efficacy when delivered through pollinating insects. Recent advances in dispenser technology, microbial formulation, pollinator management, and integrated pest management have further improved the efficiency and commercial applicability of entomovectoring. However, challenges related to vector safety, microbial compatibility, environmental variability, regulatory approval, and large-scale adoption continue to limit widespread implementation, particularly in developing countries. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the historical development, principles, components, mechanisms, applications, and future prospects of entomovectoring. The review further highlights the role of entomovectoring as a sustainable crop protection strategy that complements ecosystem services, reduces dependence on chemical pesticides, and contributes to climate-resilient agriculture.
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