RFT identifies the most efficient fungicides for Brazilian corn

The Tropical Phytosanitary Network (RFT) has released the results of a study evaluating the efficiency of fungicides available in the Brazilian market to protect corn crops against foliar diseases. The study, conducted through 30 experimental trials across 25 representative locations in Brazilian production regions, assessed 11 products, both registered and in the registration phase. According to the research, the fungicide with a triple mixture of fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin + mefentrifluconazole showed the highest control of corn leaf spot, a disease caused by the bacterium Pantoea ananatis.

The triple mixture fungicide demonstrated an average control rate of 72.8% against this disease and also promoted the highest productivity maintenance value (43.5%) compared to the untreated control. Compared to another widely used dual mixture treatment (epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin), this cited fungicide showed an increase in control efficiency by 17.4% and in productivity maintenance by 13%.

″In some cases, such as white spot, there were products that showed control efficiency above 70%,″ says researcher Adriano Custódio from IDR-Paraná (Paraná Institute of Rural Development — Iapar-Emater). The research involved evaluating disease control on leaves and reducing field damage, aiming to provide relevant information for technicians and producers.

Formalized in 2022, the RFT is a network comprising 52 public and private research centers. It promotes partnerships between entities dedicated to research and technological development in the agricultural sector. The RFT stated that the research has ″contributed to the modernization of the portfolio of registered fungicides for Brazilian corn crops.″

″The RFT has demonstrated its commitment to promoting the modernization of the agricultural sector, and the research on corn fungicides is an example of this,″ the researchers said. Through partnerships between entities and product evaluations, the RFT announces that it is seeking practical solutions to the challenges faced by corn producers in Brazil.

Market Insights

Recently, a study in Brazil, released by Kynetec Brazil, showed that the annual market for fungicides for summer and second-season corn in the country grew from BRL 561 million in the 2014-15 season to BRL 2.83 billion in the 2022-23 season. This study mentioned that in the 2022-23 season, mixtures composed of triazoles and strobilurins (Stroby Mix) represented 55% of the market, while carboxamide-based products (Premium) accounted for 25%. Conversely, protective fungicides held a 7% market share, while benzimidazoles and triazoles each had 4%.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)