The sustainable management of insect pests in vegetable crops is crucial for agricultural productivity and environmental health. Although the traditional chemical pesticides are efficient, in some cases exhibits greater risk to human beings, beneficial organisms as well as vegetable ecosystems. This has consequently led to the increased interest in alternative pest management strategies particularly the use of entomopathogens that are microorganisms which induce infections naturally among insect pest. Entomopathogens are beneficial microorganisms that are viable and pathogenic to insect pest. The entomopathogen species viz; fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes, infect a variety of insect pests and play an important role in vegetable ecosystem used in the strategy of insect pest management. Case studies on successful applications of entomopathogen-based pest management with a wide range of vegetable crops have also been included. These examples will emphasize the possibility of the use of entomopathogens in reducing chemical pesticides in agriculture, thereby pursuing the goal of sustainability. Entomopathogens are one of the most effective and safe biological agents for the management of vegetable crop insect pests. Further research and development of the appropriate entomopathogen based formulations will effectively integrate their potential into integrated pest management systems of vegetable agro-ecosystems. This chapter discusses the use of entomopathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes in controlling insect pests on vegetable crops. It explains the different kinds of entomopathogens, mechanisms and their target specificity to pests.
Biological control, Integrated Pest Management, Entomopathogens, Vegetable ecosystem, Eco-friendly, Sustainable agriculture
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