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Biopesticides are biochemical pesticides (that are naturally occurring substances), Microorganisms and plant extracts (pesticidal substances produced by plants containing added genetic material) that control pests by nontoxic mechanisms. Conventional pesticides, by contrast, are generally synthetic materials that directly kill or inactivate the pests. Biopesticides are certain natural plant products that belong to the so-called secondary metabolites, which include thousands of alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics and minor secondary chemicals. Biopesticides are derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. Biopesticides have usually no known function in photosynthesis, growth or other basic aspects of plant physiology; however, their biological activity against insect pests, nematodes, fungi and other organisms is well proved.
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