Plant Health Care launches Nematicide Teikko in Brazil

In an exclusive to AgroPages, Plant Health Care (PHC) announced the launch of TEIKKO in Brazil, describing it as their "most innovative and disruptive peptide-based solution for nematode control."

The new product is formulated with a peptide derived from Harpin protein – PDPH. It is registered to control one of the biggest threats to Brazilian soybean crops – the nematode Pratylenchus brachyurus in soybeans. According to the manufacturer, with this technology, the plant can selectively respond only to harmful microorganisms that impede its development.

PHC said TEIKKO is a nematicide that offers superior control compared to other biological products because it inhibits nematode development in the roots and reduces their population in the soil. ″We bring a differentiated product to the market because being peptide-based, it allows seed treatment without interfering with the action of any other necessary chemical or biological product,″ highlighted Rodrigo de Miranda, Director of South American Business and Global Marketing at Plant Health Care. According to him, this protection occurs "permanently, regardless of the time the seed takes to reach the soil and sprout, or any adverse weather conditions."

According to a recent survey by the Brazilian Nematology Society, losses due to these parasites could reach BRL870 billion over the next ten years in soybean crops alone if nothing is done. This means we could lose one out of every ten harvests to nematodes.

PHC explained that TEIKKO features an "exclusive mechanism of action that strongly controls nematodes by stimulating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites." 

This activation reduces root attacks by nematodes, and changes in root exudates within the rhizosphere inhibit egg hatching, preserving plant population, vigor, and crop development. With more and better roots, there is improved absorption of water and nutrients, resulting in higher harvest yield and quality. 

PHC assured that the activation promoted by TEIKKO is maintained throughout the crop cycle, and the protein leaves no residue in the soil, water, or environment. Upon contact with the seed, it immediately transmits the message and then quickly degrades, leaving behind more resistant and healthy plants that generate successive productivity gains.

TEIKKO is part of a new platform of PREtec (Plant Response Elicitor Technology), which stimulates plant defenses through gene expression, promoting physiological activation of the crop focused on controlling phytoparasitic nematodes. According to the manufacturer, the new product results from over a decade of research and development investments, and various trials in several Brazilian states conducted by a selected group of renowned researchers.

"We achieved promising results for three species of nematodes. The response over time was effective, with the plant responding in productivity," evaluated Fernanda Juliatti, CEO of Juliagro BG&P.

Sergio Almeida, Technical and Regulatory Manager of Plant Health Care Brazil, highlighted the excellent results. ″In trials, there was a reduction in nematode infestation as effective or superior to that provided by biological nematicides used as a standard, generating an average productivity increase of up to 6.4 bags/ha. The product is already available for seed treatment in soybean crops for the 2024/25 season,″ he said.

TEIKKO will be initially launched for soybean crops but is also being tested in other crops for nematode control, delivering effective control and higher yields with low application doses.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)

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