First Brazilian solution to Helicoverpa armigera reached 100% effectiveness‏

The first technology developed in Brazil to control Helicoverpa armigera, Btcontrol (biopesticide produced by Simbiose Agro) has showed 100% of effectiveness on eliminating the caterpillar at larval stages (L1, L2 and L3) until the fourth day of application treatment. This is what pointed out a study authored by Entomology Doctor Cecilia Czepak - one of the most prominent experts on the issue - with the participation of Dr. Karina Cordeito Albernaz.

"During the evaluations, a significant increase of mortality of H. armigera was observed in all testes concentrations, and after six days of exposition of caterpillar to Btcontrol, all of the treatments have showed 100% of mortality", the experts evidence at their "technical report of efficiency evaluation".

"Brazil, throughout Simbiose company, is showing to the international market a technological independence to control pests. And more importantly is to know that it is developing totally sustainable solutions. The product is already with all registries and releases possible, therefore we are already selling it to dealerships and farmers. Btcontrol presents its composition, besides the bacterium spore   (Bacillus. thuringiensis Kurstaki), a complex of toxins (Cry2Aa, Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac) forming a crystal that, depending of the insect (caterpillar), can kill it in some hours after ingestion", says the Chief Executive of Simbiose Agro, Marcelo de Godoy Oliveira.

The experiment was held at the laboratory of Entomology at the School of Agronomy of the Federal University of Goiás in the city of Goiânia, Goiás, last October. The caterpillars used at the work stemmed from the creation of a laboratory (third generation), coming from species originally collected from Planaltina, Federal District, on bean crops.

"In the case of chemical control, there are several proven products registered for other species Heliothinae group effectiveness, however, as this specie is the most frequent and this caterpillar being exotic, in Brazil there are no products registered for control of that plague which aggravates the situation further studies are needed for obtaining definitive record of effective molecules to control the pest being. Thus, the aim of this study was to test the efficiency of Btcontrol product for the control of Helicoverpa armigera in laboratory conditions", propose the experts.

"It was possible to observe during the tests of laboratory that there was a generalized mortality of caterpillars, independently of the concentrations used with Btcontrol. This fact occurred even with the caterpillar just the parenchyma of the leaves, which is not observed in caterpillars present in untreated plants that developed normally even eating normally leaves until almost complete destruction of those", reads the document.

Dr. Cecilia Czepak's conclusion is that "under the conditions that it was conducted the experiment and according to the results obtained, we can conclude that Btcontrol was efficiency on controlling H. argemiera at L2 stage (4mm of length) on the different tested concentration, therefore being recommended to this end".

"Considering that the number of insecticides for emergency use to control H. armigera is small, and that this insect can acquire resistance easily, the adoption of this biological product by farmers represent a promising tool to control this plague, as well as to delay the evolution the resistance, being an alternative to the product rotation", states the expert.

Tests were also conducted by the Federal University of Santa Maria, in Rio Grande do Sul. In this case, the mortality of caterpillars at the three stages was nearly 95% at the evaluation made 10 days after the application of the product. The results seen by the Rio Verde Faculty, also in Goiás, with the Soybean Looper were of 100% of mortality in the 14th day after the application.