Alltech Crop Science unveiled its new bionematicide Reli3ver in Brazil

Alltech Crop Science unveiled its new biological nematicide, Reli3ver, during the 39th Brazilian Congress of Nematology, receiving special coverage from AgroPages. 

The product is developed from a unique strain of Bacillus subtilis, proprietary to Alltech.

Mayra Soares, Agronomist and Technical Manager at Alltech Crop Science, highlighted that Reli3ver combines three key elements: 100% endospore, lyophilization, and lactose, forming what the company calls the R3V technology—standing for Resistance, Efficiency, and Viability. This advanced formulation ensures the nematicide's robustness against adverse environmental conditions, high viability during storage, and effective action when applied.

The endospore, a resistant bacterial structure, enhances the product's durability under harsh conditions. Lyophilization, the process of dehydrating the microorganism, keeps it dormant and highly viable until rehydrated. Lactose is an energy source, sustaining the microorganism in challenging soil or climate conditions.

Reli3ver is recommended as a preventive tool, particularly during the initial planting phase, either in the planting furrow or through the "Plant and Apply" method, focusing on soil application. Field studies have demonstrated its effectiveness across various crops. For example, in soybean crops, plants inoculated with Meloidogyne incognita showed improved root growth when treated with Reli3ver.

Tomato crops treated with the product saw a 44% reduction in Meloidogyne incognita populations in the soil, alongside a 1,515 kg/ha increase in yield. In lettuce, a study reported a 62.5% reduction in nematode populations within the first 15 days after application.

Nematodes are major agricultural pathogens, causing average production losses of 10-15%, which can exceed 50% in crops like soybeans and cotton. The rising incidence of nematodes across Brazil poses significant challenges, as they facilitate the entry of soil-borne diseases such as fungi, further worsening the situation.

Andressa Cristina Zamboni Machado, a researcher in Plant Protection at the Paraná Rural Development Institute (IDR-Paraná) and a professor of Phytopathology, emphasized the increasing prevalence of nematodes across Brazil, a concern frequently raised by producers nationwide.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)