AgroPages-Brazilian farmers use Ihara's Gemstar to fight caterpillar-Agricultural news

Growers from the Northeastern Brazilian state of Alagoas are using a new biological product to combat infestations of corn earworms, which is present in 33 municipalities of that region. The product is Gemstar, which is distributed in Brazil by Ihara and sold to farmers by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa).

The active ingredient of Gemstar is a natural nucleopolyhedrovirus that infects larvae of corn earworms. Once infected, the larva stops to eat, while the virus multiplies rapidly within, destroying its internal organs. When the caterpillar disintegrates, it releases billions of new viral particles that end up being ingested by other caterpillars (from the same generation or not) in the same area.

"As the virus is very specific for this type of host, it does not reach beneficial insects, fishes, savage animals, or humans, and its use does not hurt the environment. Gemstar has been used with success by farmers in several countries around the world to control the earworm on corn, sorghum, vegetables, and cotton," stated by Certis USA, the biopesticide producer.

Alagoas had its state of phytosanitary emergency declared by the federal government until March 27 this year on account of corn eranworm outbreak. Agronomic engineer and researcher at the Federal University of Alagoas Jakeline Santos said that "after the fourth day of application, the larva stops eating. In the seventh day, they begin to die and stay stuck in the plants".