What is the full form of BT

BT: Bacillus Thuringiensis

BT stands for Bacillus Thuringiensis. It is a Gram +ve bacteria. Belonging to the Formicates Phylum, the Bacillus Thuringiensis forms spore and is usually referred to as BT. Like other species of Bacteria, this belongs to the Bacilli class and is found on the soil, insect, water, insect faeces, plant surfaces, insect, etc. Further, it belongs to the Bacillales order, Bacillaceae family and Bacillus Genus.

BT is more often used in organic farming. It is usually brought into use as a bioinsecticide. The toxin produced in by the BT was in use since the 1920s in the form of an insecticide spray. The Bacillus Thuringiensis is used to limit the spread of the butterfly caterpillars. As the caterpillars feed on the spores, which were spread onto plants and get killed. The toxins produced are very fatal to herbivorous insects.

Origin of Bacillus Thuringiensis

BT was discovered on silkworms by Ishiwatari Shigetane and he named it Bacillus sotto. Many other subspecies are known of BT, such as the israelensis (Bti), kurstaki (Btk), etc. Ishiwatari Shigetane is a Japanese scientist, who discovered Bacillus Thuringiensis in 1901. Shigetane was researching the reducing silkworm population. It was rediscovered by a German scientist in 1911. It was when the use of the toxicity from the Bacillus Thuringiensis was found to be useful against pests. In 1958, for the first time, this product was commercially used, in the United States of America.

Uses of Bacillus Thuringiensis

During sporulation, Bacillus Thuringiensis creates an insecticidal protein. This is the Bt-toxin gene. This gene is then infused into the plants to let the creation of a variety of pest-resistant plants, with the help of genetic engineering. Such as Bt cotton, Bt corn, and others. The genes which are used to modify numerous food crops genetically are taken from the Bacillus Thuringiensis. The genes then independently produce the toxin. Although this toxin formed is harmful to many species of insects, still, a number of strains of BT are available to make it more target specific.

Advantages of Bacillus Thuringiensis

1. Not like the other insecticides, targeting a large range of pest species, Bacillus Thuringiensis is having an effect on a very specific species of insects. Thus, letting the beneficial insects, do their work.
2. Also, it is known through the research that Bacillus Thuringiensis does not harm the natural predators of the insect, nor does it lead to severe deformity in the functioning of the other pollinators and honeybees.
3. Bacillus Thuringiensis is seen to get merge with the natural controllers and is hence used as a united pest controller in organic farms.
4. An increase in the use of Bacillus Thuringiensis, as an insect resistance can effectively lessen the use of other harmful and hazardous chemical insecticides, which are also very costly.
5. After the inception of Bacillus Thuringiensis in one of the European crops, the application of conventional pesticides which was recommended got drastically reduced.
6. Although being hazardous in nature for the insect, the Bacillus Thuringiensis toxins are found to be non-toxic to human lives and also to any other mammals, in any manner of use, either applied as an insecticide or taken in with GMO food crops. This happens because we do not possess those enzymes which lead to the activation of the Bacillus Thuringiensis protein.

Disadvantages of Bacillus Thuringiensis

1. The Bacillus Thuringiensis is doubted to get degraded due to the sunlight when used as a spray or in liquid form.
2. Before seven days of usage, many of the formulations get persisted on the foliage.
3. The inception of new genetic material can become the pathway for allergens, and hence some types of Bacillus Thuringiensis are not approved for human intake.
4. Newer variants formed for controlling leaf beetle start losing effectiveness after about 24 hours of application.
5. Nowadays, additives, such as the sticking or wetting agents are used in Bacillus Thuringiensis application to enhance effectivity as this helps in covering larger foliage and prevents wash-off.
6. As a narrow insect range is targeted by Bacillus Thuringiensis, extra use of insecticides is often necessitated to prevent damage from other pests.
7. Nowadays, it is hugely concerning about the ability of the insects to develop resistance to the toxin. This has taken place due to the continuous exposure of the Bacillus Thuringiensis toxin to the plants.