UPSC Prelims 2012·GS1·science-and-technology·ipr and biotechnology

Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Flowering plants Some species of which of the above kinds of organisms are employed as biopesticides?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. A1 only
  2. B2 and 3 only
  3. C1 and 3 only
  4. D1, 2 and 3Correct

Explanation

The correct answer is D because species from all three categories are used as biopesticides. 1. Bacteria: The most famous example is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which produces proteins toxic to specific insects. It is widely used in organic farming and genetic engineering. 2. Fungi: Several fungi act as bio-insecticides or bio-herbicides. For example, Beauveria bassiana is used to control termites, thrips, and whiteflies by infecting their bodies. 3. Flowering plants: Many plants contain natural chemicals that repel or kill pests. Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a well-known example used to produce botanical pesticides. Pyrethrum, derived from certain chrysanthemum flowers, is another common plant-based pesticide. Since some species from all three groups serve this purpose, option D is the correct choice.
science-and-technology: Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Flowering plants Some species of which of the above k
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