Fertiláqua highlights products to enhance plant defense mechanisms

Plant resistance consists of the ability of a plant to suffer less damage than another under similar conditions, resistance being dynamic, coordinated and involving different mechanisms of action. Resistance is pre-established in the variety's genetics and/or induced.

Plants defend themselves through physical and chemical mechanisms, which occur naturally. However, it is possible to apply exogenous substances that activate this defense mechanism. Through it, it is possible to prevent infection levels from occurring with productive and economic losses in crops.  

Regarding the physical mechanism, when an attack of biotic origin is identified, the plant increases its lignin synthesis and the amount of lignin in the cuticles, thus, the microorganism or pest will have greater difficulty in degrading and penetrating the plant tissue. Amino acids such as phenylalanine and tyrosine are closely involved in defense mechanisms. 

As for the chemical, the signaling process happens in the same way when the plant identifies the biological attack. With this, it activates its defense mechanism, increasing the synthesis of phytopathogenic proteins, phenolic compounds and phytoalexins, resulting in the inhibition of germination, elongation of the germ tube and reduction of mycelial growth. 

And how to improve the plant's resistance profile in practice? 

According to Deyvid Bueno, development manager at Fertiláqua, it can be improved through the application of exogenous substances, containing compounds that trigger the activation of the resistance system such as phosphite, salicylic acid, amino acids and algae extracts, which have a very positive effect. for vegetables. When such compounds are applied synergistically together, the plant's defense response profile is extremely enhanced. “In this way, there is a stimulus to the plant’s acquired systemic resistance, which consists of one of the resistance mechanisms used, being one of the best alternatives agronomically speaking to reduce production losses resulting from attacks by phytopathogenic organisms”, he explains. 

The application of these substances improves the plant's capacity and gives it tools to go through critical phases, and it is also recommended to be complemented by balanced nutrition depending on the stage of development. It is important to highlight that the greatest benefits are observed when management is carried out preventively, however, curative management with these technological solutions also brings positive results.

One of these solutions is Defesa, from Aminoagro, which through its varied and complex composition, the plant will have full capacity to activate its secondary metabolism and combat the antagonistic biological being, with the benefit of less damage to plant tissue and greater plant capacity to produce and accumulate photoassimilates. 

Farms in Mato Grosso and Goiás showed an increase in productivity with the use of Defesa of around three to four bags per hectare. 

“The solution will help productivity in a positive way, preventing the plant from experiencing production losses resulting from damage caused by the pest. Because, it is known that there are pests and diseases that cause large production losses (between 20 and 90%) depending on the pathogen, the season, environmental conditions, among others”, explains the manager.