Seed treatment with cutting-edge insecticide increases Bt soybean productivity by up to 2 bags per hectare

A series of trials conducted by the DuPont Brasil Crop Protection technical team, in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 harvests, showed that Bt soybean seed treatment results in superior control of the crop's main foliar and soil pests. In the company's demonstration fields, focused on comparing performance between the Dermacor insecticide and the so-called producer's standard treatment or commercial standard, the productivity of oilseed crops was increased by up to two bags per hectare.

“We observed that the association between Dermacor technology and Bt soybean protects seedlings throughout the process of germination, emergence and establishment of the crop stand, in addition to helping in the effectiveness and maintenance of features of genetically modified organisms available on the national market”, highlights Érico Cardoso, agronomist and seed treatment marketing manager at DuPont.

According to the executive, in the two harvests analyzed, Dermacor's performance on the plant population exceeded that of the producer's standard treatment by 10%, while the average productivity obtained with the DuPont product reached 67 bags per hectare, compared to 65 bags/ha of the commercial standard. (See figures 1 and 2.)

The DuPont agronomist highlights that Dermacor's action reinforced the protection of Bt soybeans in the company's demonstration fields against the attack of elasmo caterpillars (Elasmopalpus lignoselus) and chorus (Phyllophaga cuyabana).

“In Bt soybean crops treated by the 'producer standard', the DuPont technical team found around eight more larvae per square meter”, highlights Gasparini.

According to the manager, in controlling the elastic caterpillar, one of the most harmful to soybean crops, Dermacor performed three times better in demonstration fields. Regarding the Spodoptera frugiperda, the studies carried out showed that, on average, the crop was better protected for up to 28 days after the plant emerged.

“In the seedling development phase, Dermacor, translocated via the xylem to the aerial part of the plant, also resulted in a broad spectrum of caterpillar control Spodoptera frugiperda, Helicoverpa armigera e Anticarsia gemmatalis”, notes Cardoso.

According to the DuPont agronomist, Dermacor works by quickly stopping the caterpillars' feeding. The product, according to the executive, was the first of the Anthranilic Diamides chemical class launched in Brazil for seed treatment. “Dermacor provides a prolonged residual effect and high selectivity to natural enemies of pests. This is one of the great innovations recently introduced in global agriculture”, concludes Érico Cardoso.