Stoller launches bionematicide Rizotec for sugarcane in Brazil

Bionematicide Rizotec is a new alternative for the control of nematodes in sugarcane, a problem that causes over R$35 billion in losses in Brazil.

 

It is an isolated fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (Cepa PC 10) that was selected because of the virulence and high capacity of reproducing, besides the good soil remaining and result stability.

 

According to the maker, Stoller do Brasil, the product presents egg parasitism high effectiveness, young individuals and female control of different species of nematodes. The goal of eliminating parasites is to allow a better absorption of water and nutrients by the plant’s roots, guaranteeing good development and increasing productivity by 20 percent.

 

“The biological product has lower impact on the environment, but what makes us very satisfied in this case is that Rizotec results shows that its efficiency is similar to the chemical without, of course, all the environmental impacts,” said Researcher Leila Dinardo Miranda of the Agronomic Institute of Campinas.

 

The expert maintains that the soil analysis of sugarcane in diverse regions of the country show that 97 percent of the samples analyzed have the nematode Pratylenchus zeae. Another 35 percent contains Meloidogyne javanica, 20 percent have M. incognita, and 35 percent have P. brachyurus. All the species reduce cane productivity in the first harvest by 20 to 30 percent.

 

According to studies presented by Stoller in the municipality of Catanduva, state of São Paulo, there was an increase of 24 tons per hectare, with productivity jumping from 127 TCH to 151 TCH.

 

“Today, only the chemical product could not control 100 percent of the nematodes, it is necessary to do management. In this sense, the biological product is a fundamental tool to help integrated management at first. Another crucial point is that the market tends to go to a green line, so having a bionematicide available is fundamental,” highlighted Chrys Melinski Sercioloto, vegetable nutrition manager at Coopercitrus.

 

Roberto Risolia, Stoller’s manager in Brazil, highlighted that the goal is, “to bring a solution for a very serious problem on sugarcane. It is a product that has helped take great steps towards achieving Stoller’s mission, it is essential for the farm business and allows plants to express all of their potential.”