PHC Peptides Featured at Soybean Technical Meeting

Plant Health Care (PHC), a global company belonging to the PI Industries group and a leader in sustainable solutions for crop protection and biostimulation, was present at the 25th MT Foundation Soybean Technical Meeting, held from May 13 to 15 at Fatec/Senai, in Cuiabá (MT). The event, one of the most traditional and technical in the Brazilian agricultural calendar, was the stage for the presentation of field results that demonstrate the effectiveness of Teikko, a new biochemical nematicide developed with PREtec technology.

During the panel “Alternatives for Coexisting with Phytonematodes in a New Production Scenario”, two renowned researchers presented consistent data that reinforce the agronomic performance of the solution. Dr. Rosângela Silva, from Fundação Mato Grosso, presented significant productivity gains in trials conducted with Teikko in the 2023/24 harvest: in Itiquira (MT), an area with root lesion nematode Pratylenchus brachyurus, spiral nematode Helicotylenchus spp. and reniform nematode Rotylenchulus reniformis, the increases reached 3,5 bags/ha; in Sapezal (MT), an area with root lesion nematode P. brachyurus and cyst nematode Heterodera glycines, the increases ranged from 1,7 to 2,6 bags/ha, compared to other bionematicides.

Complementing the panel, Professor Dr. Cláudia Dias Arieira, from the State University of Maringá, highlighted the innovative role of biochemical effectors such as the Harpin protein — the basis of PHC's PREtec technology — in controlling nematodes. The researcher also presented a greenhouse study conducted in partnership with Araucária Soluções Agronômicas, in Maringá (PR), where Teikko demonstrated efficiency in controlling the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica at doses of 60 and 90 μg/seed, reinforcing its action against different species of nematodes.

According to Ferdinando Silva, Head of Research and Development at PHC, “the difference with Teikko, the fourth generation of microbiological products, lies in its ability to activate the plant’s natural defenses via selective gene expression, acting precisely against harmful microorganisms and contributing to a healthier, more productive and resilient crop.

The result of over 10 years of investment in R&D, PREtec technology enables the development of products based on natural elicitor proteins (peptides), free of residues and fully compatible with conventional management. Elicitor peptides of microbiological origin are considered the fourth generation of microbiological products. Teikko can be applied in seed treatment, with a long-lasting and stable effect even in adverse weather conditions, without compromising the effectiveness of other chemical or biological inputs.

Since 2015 in Brazil, PHC has been expanding its contribution to the advancement of national agribusiness with regenerative technologies that integrate productivity, sustainability and food security. For the company, participating in events such as the one held by Fundação MT is a strategic opportunity to foster technical exchange and promote the adoption of modern and effective tools to face challenges such as the management of plant parasites.

“The active participation of industry and science is essential to ensure the evolution of agriculture. With each edition, we seek to provide rural producers with more precise and sustainable tools,” highlighted Romão Viana, CEO of the Mato Grosso Foundation, at the closing ceremony of the event.