# Advances in Micro- and Macrobiological Strategies for Pest Control in Berry Production Systems: A Critical Review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews biological pest control methods for berries, highlighting their benefits and challenges compared to synthetic pesticides.

## Contribution

The paper compiles recent advances in combining micro- and macrobiological agents for sustainable pest control in berry crops.

## Key findings

- Biological agents like baculoviruses and entomopathogenic fungi reduce pest populations in berry crops.
- Abiotic factors like UV radiation and temperature affect the field efficacy of biological control agents.
- Conservation biological control strategies can enhance sustainability in pest management.

## Abstract

Berry crops such as strawberry Fragaria × ananassa (Weston), raspberry Rubus idaeus L., blackberry Rubus ulmifolius Schott, 1818, and blueberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. are economically and nutritionally valuable worldwide. However, the intensive use of synthetic pesticides for pest management in these crops has led to ecological imbalance, pest resistance, and negative effects on non-target organisms and human health. The integration of biological control agents into sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) systems represents an alternative. This review compiles and evaluates current advances in the application of baculoviruses (BVs), entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), nematodes (EPNs), predatory mites (PMs), and parasitoid wasps (PWs) for pest suppression in berry crops. Emphasis was placed on their ecological interactions, host specificity, and compatibility within IPM frameworks. The combined use of micro- and macrobiological control agents effectively reduces key pest populations. However, field efficacy remains influenced by abiotic stressors such as UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, and chemical incompatibility. The integration of native micro- and macrobiological control agents of through conservation biological control (CBC) strategies can enhance sustainability in berry production systems. Future efforts should focus on formulation improvements, adaptive management under field conditions, and synergistic interactions among microbial and arthropod natural enemies.