Bioherbicide

Bioherbicides consist of phytotoxins, pathogens, and other microbes used as biological weed control.[1] Bioherbicides may be compounds and secondary metabolites derived from microbes such as fungi, bacteria or protozoa; or phytotoxic plant residues, extracts or single compounds derived from other plant species.[2]

Available bioherbicides

While 13 different products have been launched, currently only 9 bioherbicides are available for sale/purchase in market globally.[3] Below is the list of available bioherbicides:

  1. Devine (1981)
  2. Collego (1982)
  3. BioMal (1992)
  4. Woad Warrior (2002)
  5. Chontrol (2005)
  6. Smoulder (2005)
  7. Sarritor (2007)
  8. Organo-Sol (2010)
  9. Beloukha (2015)

Marketing

With increasing awareness of the effects of the chemical herbicides and pesticides, bioherbicides can be adopted as an alternative especially for integrated weed management. The market share of bioherbicides is merely 10% of all biopesticides.[3] On the other hand, the research spanning over two decades since 1980s has also falsified the principle that there is a coevolved natural enemy of a host weed which can manage weed through varied formulation and thus advocated for more research to culturally and genetically intensify the bioherbicidal organisms.[4] Efficiency and efficacy of bioherbicides is impeded by changing weather and temperature and this can further obstruct the application and integration of bioherbicides. A study shows that by covering with jute turf, which retains moistures and allows one third of the sunlight to pass through, can increase the efficiency of bioherbicides and also remove some of the hindrances from the commercialization and marketing of bioherbicides.[5]

Production

The production of bioherbicides is a process of biosynthesis where different mediums ranging from soybean bran to corn steep liquor are fermented to obtain desirable results.[6] In addition to the solid-state fermentation, bioherbicides can also be produced by submerged fermentation in stirred tanks or in other environments.[7] Despite the ‘eco-friendliness’, there are several obstructions that make it less practical to use bioherbicides in fields because the lab results may not be the same as the real results.[8]

Future

While it is true that after their 'discovery' the bioherbicides are not readily available on the market for various reasons, advocates of bioherbicides argue that bioherbicides-researchers should collaborate with other researchers and seek more funding for public sector so that the bioherbicides can become more marketable and attain more market share.[9] Simultaneously, research from Canada reinforces that legislative and policy dynamics have great power to accelerate the innovation and integration of bioherbicides other microbial pest-control products.[10]

References
  1. Weaver, Mark; et al. "Bioherbicides: Research and risks". Toxin Reviews. 264: 313–342 – via EBSCOhost.
  2. Angélica Rossana Castro de Souza, Daiana Bortoluzzi Baldoni, Jessica Lima, Vitória Porto, Camila Marcuz, Carolina Machado, Rafael Camargo Ferraz, Raquel C. Kuhn, Rodrigo J.S. Jacques, Jerson V.C. Guedes, Marcio A. Mazutti, Selection, isolation, and identification of fungi for bioherbicide production, Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, Volume 48, Issue 1, January–March 2017, Pages 101-108, ISSN 1517-8382, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjm.2016.09.004.
  3. Cordeau, Stéphane; Triolet, Marion; Wayman, Sandra; Steinberg, Christian; Guillemin, Jean-Philippe (2016-09-01). "Bioherbicides: Dead in the water? A review of the existing products for integrated weed management". Crop Protection. 87 (Supplement C): 44–49. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2016.04.016.
  4. Hallett, Steven G. (2005). "Where are Bioherbicides?". Weed Science. 3: 404 – via EBSCOhost.
  5. Mohammed, H..; et al. (2009). "Increasing the Efficacy and Extending the Effective Application Period of a Granular Turf Bioherbicide by Covering with Jute Fabric". Weed Technology. 4: 524 – via EBSCOhost.
  6. Rodrigo, K.; et al. (2017). "Optimization of solid-state fermentation for bioherbicide production by Phoma sp". Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering. 2: 377 – via EBSCOhost.
  7. Brun, T; et al. (Oct 27, 2016). "Production of bioherbicide by Phoma sp. in a stirred-tank bioreactor". 3 Biotech. 6 (2): 230. doi:10.1007/s13205-016-0557-9. PMC 5083679. PMID 28330302.
  8. Smith, David A.; et al. (2006). "Interactions between Chemical Herbicides and the Candidate Bioherbicide Microsphaeropsis amaranthi". Weed Science. 3: 532 – via EBSCOhost.
  9. Ash, G. (Jan 1, 2010). "The science, art and business of successful bioherbicides". Biological Control. 52 (3): 230–240. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2009.08.007.
  10. Bailey, K.; et al. (Jan 1, 2010). "Social and economic drivers shaping the future of biological control: A Canadian perspective on the factors affecting the development and use of microbial biopesticides". Biological Control. 52 (3): 221–229. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2009.05.003.
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