Research indicates new strategies to control soybean nematodes.

Soybeans, the main grain in Brazil's trade balance, are an essential base for animal feed and a raw material for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and materials of biological origin. However, the expansion of soybean cultivation in the country has been threatened by plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), microorganisms that attack the root system, impairing water and nutrient absorption, as well as paving the way for secondary infections and, consequently, generating a significant economic impact, with associated global losses exceeding US$150 billion per year.

For decades, the control of these parasites has been based primarily on the use of chemical nematicides, but their low long-term effectiveness, environmental toxicity, and risks to human and animal health have restricted their use. In this context, researchers affiliated with the National Institute of Science and Technology in Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture (INCT NanoAgro) have identified biotechnological solutions that emerge as promising alternatives, especially when combined with advances in nanotechnology.

Among the most promising strategies are biological agents (nematophagous fungi and antagonistic bacteria) and nanoencapsulated phytochemicals, which increase the effectiveness and durability of treatments, protecting the active compounds from degradation and ensuring their direct release in the root zone, where nematodes concentrate their action. Complementing these approaches, RNA interference (RNAi) emerges as an innovative technology capable of silencing essential nematode genes and reducing their infestation capacity, although it still requires studies on soil stability and safety for non-target organisms.

In addition to technological solutions, cultural practices such as crop rotation, proper soil management, and the use of resistant cultivars contribute to reducing nematode pressure and increasing soybean resilience. The combination of these approaches—nanotechnology, biological agents, RNAi, and agricultural strategies—constitutes an integrated and sustainable management system capable of reducing losses and minimizing environmental impacts.

According to the researchers, the next challenges include validation under field conditions, reduction of production costs, and optimization of scalable formulations, ensuring that these innovative solutions can be practically adopted by producers. "The integration between nanotechnology and biotechnology therefore represents a viable and promising path for the sustainable management of soybean nematodes, aligning productivity, efficiency, and environmental preservation, and opening the way for a new era of smart and ecologically responsible agriculture," they conclude.

More information at doi.org/10.1016/j.plana.2025.100195