Bemisia tabaci pressure on soybeans expected to increase this crop season, warns expert

The pressure caused by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) on crops, especially soybeans, is anticipated to rise in the 2023/2024 crop season, warned Leandro Valerim, insecticides manager at UPL Brazil.

Bemisia tabaci

This is because of the El Niño phenomenon affecting the Brazilian tropical climate, expected to bring above-average temperatures and irregular rainy periods until mid-2024.

The intensification of heat and humidity favored the development of the Bemisia tabaci insect, necessitating proper pest management to avoid negative impacts on soybean productivity.

"Bemisia tabaci feeds on the sap of the leaves. This process weakens the plants, compromising their growth and consequently reducing production," Valerim warned.

Leandro Valerim

As an agronomist and Master's degree holder from the University of São Paulo (USP), he pointed to surveys indicating that the insect can cause average losses of up to 30% in soybean crops.

According to the UPL manager, the whitefly also excreted a sugary substance that covered the plant leaves, creating a conducive environment for the growth of harmful fungi, causing damage known as sooty mold.

"The pest can contribute to the spread of microorganisms causing other diseases that severely impact productivity, as they reduce the efficiency of the plant's photosynthesis," the expert emphasized.

Leandro Valerim recommended the solution to the problem: "Managing the pest with scientifically tested technology inputs represents the best way to control Bemisia tabaci."

He highlighted the insecticide Sperto, developed by UPL, stating that it was the "fastest-growing product in the soybean market, as it is effective and has a broad spectrum, controlling stink bugs and whiteflies, being a unique and unparalleled quality solution."

Sperto is registered for aerial application and offers the "best shock in the category," according to data from the consulting firm Blink Projetos Estratégicos, also being the "best anti-resistance alternative in the market."

"With these differentials, Sperto has contributed to elevating the company to the leadership of the insecticide market for soybeans," the UPL Brazil manager said in conclusion.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)