Bio-pesticides

Date or time period: 1990s

Bacillus thurigiensis formulations have been used for insect pest control since the 1920s. However, major commercialisation in vineyards did not occur until the 1960s. Bacillus subtilis strains have been available in commercial formulations since the 1990s e.g. Serenade Max ® (Bacillus subtilis QST 713) for control of powdery mildew, Botrytis and sour rot of flowers and fruit of grapevine. Trichoderma species have also been available in commercial formulations since the 1990s e.g. Trichodex ® (T. harzianum) for Eutypa lata control.

More recent bio-pesticides include Colonizer® (T. koningii) for control of Botrytis on grapevine flowers and Antagonize ® (T. harzianum) for control of Botrytis on fruit.