Argentinian biofungicide controls Phytophthora in potato with just 6 applications

Late blight disease caused by Phytophthora infestans is one of the most damaging diseases for potato crops in Argentina and causes economic losses estimated at US$6.7 billion per year worldwide.

This disease often generates a high use of chemically synthesized fungicides to control it. Numerous producers in the Argentine area of Balcarce and Tandil have recognized that many diseases require more than 12 applications of fungicides.

Biofungicide alternatives are now emerging that can control Phytophthora infestans more effectively.

“Recent trials for the control of phytophthora in potatoes showed a control level of 80% of the disease with only six applications,” explained Dario Germán Vileta, Scientific Director of the Protergium firm, a spinoff of the Terragene company.

The expert is in charge of developing biological products for intensive crops. Carrot treatments and other horticultural crops could be seen at the company's stand at the Expoagro 2022 fair.

“In any case, the idea is to start using biologicals in crops such as potatoes, thinking of these tools as complementary to traditional products. Biologicals must be applied together with chemical synthesis products to reduce the use of traditional products gradually. This will be the case in the short and medium term,” he affirmed.

According to Vileta, “For intensive crops, we are developing bionematicides to control meloidogyne in seed potatoes and phytophthora with excellent results. We try to incorporate the entire tomato cycle control program by providing solutions that start with transplanting and then using biofungicides to control bacterial canker and botrytis,” he said.

“I believe that currently, the biological ones are complementary to the chemical ones. But, perhaps with time, the agronomic experiences, and the pressure that society can exert around having safer and optimal quality food, can change that in the future, pushing the producer. It adds more and more biological ones to replace the chemical ones,” he said in conclusion.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)