Brazil Embrapa launches natural biocide against fall armyworm

Brazil's National Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa) introduced a new natural biocide against the fall armyworm, which is one of the main pest faced by corn growers and damaged nearly 40% of the production in Brazil. It is an essential oil extracted from the plant Piper tuberculatum, which has 54 natural chemicals substances.

 

The research concluded this year by Paulo Soares, researcher of Embrapa Meio-Norte (based in the state of Piauí), proved that the essential oil kills fall armyworm right in the first spray applications. It was also verified that it is efficient on other pests such as Cerotoma arcuatus, Aphis craccivora, and Crinocerus sanctus, which attacks mostly the cowpea.

 

The next stage of the project is to identify which substances present in the oil act directly as insecticide to enhance the use of the product. Piper tuberculatum is a plant that predominates in tropical regions, such as the Brazilian Northeast, and over areas with a significant amount of frequent rains.

 

For the agronomist Francisco Kim de Oliveira of Embrapa Meio-Norte, this research opens the way for new investigations of native plants. According to him, the essence of these vegetables can generate alternative products to control pests and diseases, "give sustainability to the productive chain and reduce the use of agrochemicals".