What does BT mean in LABORATORY

Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) is a species of soil-dwelling bacterium that produces proteins which are toxic to certain types of insect larvae, making it an effective biopesticide for pest control purposes.

When applied to crops, Bt produces crystal proteins that are taken up by insects when they feed on foliage or other plant parts. These crystal proteins then cause damage to the insect's gut wall, leading to death before they can do further damage to crops.

Yes, because the crystal proteins produced by Bt are only toxic to certain types of insects, they pose no risk to humans or other animals such as pets and wildlife.

While Bt is considered to have low toxicity levels to non-target organisms like amphibians, reptiles and birds, its use can still result in localized environmental impacts if not applied correctly following recommended guidelines.

Yes, although uncommon with Bt use due to its specificity towards certain insect taxa only, resistance from pests against it may still occur over time if not managed properly through crop rotation and mixing with other biopesticides.