Brazil's Embrapa signs partnership to control cotton pests‏

The Brazilian National Company of Agricultural Research (Embrapa) announced a new partnership with the Association of Cotton Growers and the Cotton Institute of Mato Grosso, to control pests on cotton crops.

 

The partnership has as a goal to select strains of entomopathogenic bacteria (specific against insects) from the microbial collection maintained by Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, which now has more than 2,500 strains of bacteria, to control pests that attack cotton, especially corn earworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Together, these two pests cause losses of over 80% for cotton crops because a great number of them hosts on the crops and damage the reproductive parts of the plants.

 

The microbial collection from Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology has been successfully used for the production of biolarvicides aimed to control these two pests, and provides genes to develop insect-resistant plants. The partnership already lead to installation of a bioinsecticide development experimental unit at Embrapa, built with funds from the Cotton Institute of Mato Grosso.