Bioinsecticide with high solubility and application flexibility launched in Brazil

Date:04-06-2022

The Brazilian Dillon Biotecnologia announced the launch of the bioinsecticide Beauvel, produced from the fungus Beauveria bassiana and recommended for strawberry, papaya, grape, mango, coffee, melon, soybean, corn, garlic, onion, and ornamental crops, among others.

According to the manufacturer, one of Beauvel's differentials is its liquid formulation, which allows high solubility and, in the preparation of the syrup, prevents the formation of lumps, which clogs the nozzles of the sprayers.

Additionally, says Dillon, due to its chemical composition, the bioinsecticide “does not cause any toxicity to leaves, flowers, and fruits. A great advantage of Beauvel is that it contains volatile metabolites, which can provide a repellent action to insect pests or even collaborate with the mechanisms of conidia germination and subsequent colonization of pests, resulting in their death.”

Another crucial differentiating feature, was its greater flexibility in terms of application times, the manufacturer added. Beauvel can be applied during high humidity and low temperatures alternatively, allowing application of the product at times of higher temperatures and with low temperatures and moisture.

“Beauvel is a very useful tool for the producer particularly for organic production systems, as the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply has already approved its use in organic agriculture,” Dillon said.

The fungus B. bassiana, which occurs in soils, is considered entomopathogenic, as its filamentous structures called hyphae penetrate some arthropods and can cause death. When the insect dies, the hyphae emerge to the outside forming propagation structures, the conidiophores, of whitish color, containing the conidia, completing the fungus cycle. These conidia, carried by the wind, can reach new arthropods and start a new fungus life cycle.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)