Fungicide that combats four soybean diseases is launched by Sumitomo Chemical in the region of Santa Maria (RS)

Farmers and consultants from the Santa Maria (RS) region followed the launch of Excalia Max, a product that works to control the main diseases that affect soybeans. With an unprecedented composition on the market, the new solution has a broad spectrum of control for Asian rust, target spot, Cercospora kikuchii and Septoria glycines. Excalia Max is the result of ten years of research and investment by Sumitomo Chemical, one of the world's leading chemical companies.

“Without certainty, Excalia Max is the best fungicide to protect the productive potential of soybeans”, says André Arnone, fungicides and soybean crop leader at Sumitomo Chemical. Arnone explains that Excalia Max is a systemic product par excellence, and contains Indiflin, a new molecule that the company brings to the market to control diseases in soybeans. It is quickly absorbed by the leaves and safely protects the productive potential of the country's different soybean varieties.

“In the trials we have carried out both internally and in partnerships with the main research institutions in Brazil, Excalia Max is a performance leader and we are certain that, due to its very low exposure to pathogens, it will continue to stand out”, says the specialist .

In addition to Indiflin, which is part of the carboxamide group, the new fungicide has as its active ingredient Tebuconazole, belonging to the triazole group.

“The launch took place this Tuesday (02/08) at an event aimed at producers who participated in the pre-launch of the product and consultants from the main productive regions of Rio Grande do Sul. The objective is to publicize the unprecedented technology in maintaining the productive potential of soybeans, as well as interacting with the exchange of experiences aimed at improving the sustainability of the production chain”, says the Trade Marketing coordinator at Sumitomo Chemical, Samuel Bianchi.

Social Impact

Asian rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) is the main and most destructive foliar disease of soybeans. It can attack at any stage of the plant, which, when infected, suffers from early defoliation, compromising the formation and filling of pods. Damage can reach 90% of production.

Caused by the fungus Corynespora cassiicola, the target spot is rapidly expanding across Brazil, causing great concern to producers due to its difficulty in handling. The disease causes circular lesions on the leaves, with a dark spot in the center, like a target, hence the name. In addition to leaves, it attacks petioles (the part that attaches the leaf to the branch), stems and pods. The target spot can generate losses of up to 40% in productivity.

Cercospora kikuchii is a fungus found in all soybean-producing regions in Brazil. The disease known as “cercospora leaf blight” occurs at the end of the cycle and can reduce yield by more than 20%. Finally, Septoria glycines causes circular, wine-colored lesions and later necrosis. For soybeans, it is one of the first diseases to appear in crop fields, manifesting itself with greater intensity at the beginning of pod formation.