Welcome to Chinese Journal of Biological Control,Today is

Chinese Journal of Biological Control ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 278-291.DOI: 10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2026.05.002

• CHINESE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL • Previous Articles    

Research and Application Development History and Prospects of Bacillus thuringiensis in China

SHU Changlong1, PENG Donghai Peng2, CAO Beibei3, XIE Jiajian1, ZHANG Jie1,3   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests/Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Invasive Alien Species of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
    3. Key Laboratory of Agri-products Quality and Biosafety, Ministry of Education/School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
  • Received:2026-04-20 Published:2026-05-14

Abstract: As a core microbial resource for agricultural biological control, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) represents an important epitome of the development of biological control discipline in China. This paper systematically reviews the development history of Bt research and application in China, from technological catching-up to independent innovation, and then to the forefront of the international community. It systematically elaborates the core achievements of China in the fields of Bt insecticidal gene mining, insecticidal mechanism analysis, insecticide development, and application of transgenic insect-resistant crops. Meanwhile, it analyzes the current challenges faced by Bt research, such as escalating pest resistance, insufficient field stability of formulations, and single resource utilization mode. Furthermore, combined with cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, this paper prospects the future research directions from the aspects of targeted design of novel insecticidal proteins, industrial upgrading of formulations, resistance monitoring and management, and expansion of cross-field applications, so as to provide theoretical support and practical reference for the improvement of agricultural green prevention and control system and the guarantee of food security in China.

Key words: biological control, Bacillus thuringiensis, development history, prospects

CLC Number: